That is the question directors of the Pagosa
Area Water and Sanitation District debated Tuesday night while
considering whether or not to provide funds for the continuation of
an area cloud-seeding project implemented by Durango-based Western
Weather Consultants.

The project, which began Nov. 1 and will
continue through late March, is aimed at increasing the snowpack
levels in the eastern San Juan Mountains, thus providing the Pagosa
area with the potential for increased water supplies.

The board, which noted that snowpack levels
in area river basins are higher than they were last year but still
well below average, was hesitant to single out cloud seeding as the
sole cause of the increases.

The board presented information supplied by
Larry Hjermstad, who manages Western Weather Consultants, citing "a
14 to 22 percent increase above normal" and indicated that silver
iodide generators had been put into use fourteen times since early
November when conditions were deemed favorable for enhancing the
possibility of additional snow.

Board members cited studies conducted in the
Beaver Creek and Vail Valley areas which seemed to indicate a trend
toward increased snow levels during years when cloud seeding is
performed.

Board member Bob Frye pointed out that a
comparison of Pagosa Springs with those areas is an apple and oranges
variety.

"They can afford to believe it's working;
those (ski) areas can cover the cost by adding a dollar to the cost
of a jetsetter's lift ticket," said Frye, "but over here we live in a
different world."

Apparently the board made a preliminary
decision to pledge $20,000 last year to help fund the project, but
Carrie Campbell, district general manager, said that figure was not a
steadfast, concrete amount. "That commitment was not solid, not set
in stone," said Campbell.

The cost for the five-month project is
roughly $80,000, the bulk of which is currently being provided by the
San Juan Water Conservancy District.

The board decided to table the decision to
contribute funds until a later date, pending further proof of the
program's success. "I don't have reservations about spending the
money," said Frye, "but I'm still not convinced it works."

In a telephone interview Wednesday morning,
Hjermstad verified that the generators used in the cloud-seeding
process had been used 14 times as of Feb. 2, but said the figures he
provided were an estimate of what he thought could be accomplished
with the program.

"That 14 to 22 percent is not results, just
a prediction of what I could expect to anticipate," said Hjermstad,
adding, "None of the figures I provided were intended to be
associated with the current cloud seeding in that area."

Hjermstad said that while snowfall in the
Eastern Range has exceeded levels in the western San Juan Mountains
thus far, it is too early to attribute any differences to the
cloud-seeding effort. "It's just an observation at this point," said
Hjermstad.

Hjermstad explained that final comparisons
and conclusions could not be made until the completion of a study
after the seeding ends in late March.

With respect to the approaching low-pressure
weather system, Hjermstad indicated the generators would be used as
long as snow levels did not begin to increase too rapidly in areas
susceptible to avalanche. "We'll keep them on as long as we can,
depending on how quickly the snowpack builds in the higher risk
areas," said Hjermstad.

According to Tautges, while Lake Pagosa,
Stevens Reservoir and Village Lake are down 67, 62 and 25 inches
respectively, Lake Forest is full and Lake Hatcher is expected to
reach full pool by April.

Tautges said the district continues to pump
water from the San Juan River to fill the reservoirs, and that
districtwide water usage remains steady at 1.3 million gallons per
day.

According to the board, water restrictions
are still in effect with no outside watering being permitted at this
time.

Dutton Ditch Update

According to Campbell, the district is
continuing the process of obtaining a permit from the Forest Service
to initiate the encasement of Dutton Ditch.

"We're in the permitting process and
engineering is happening. I'm guessing it will be late summer or
early fall before we can act," said Campbell, who added construction
bids will go out after the district secures all necessary
permits.

Campbell indicated ground breaking will
probably start sometime next year and an absolute timetable will
depend on what weather conditions permit.

The goal of the district is to encase the
28,000-foot ditch to improve flow and increase storage levels in
Stevens Reservoir and Lake Hatcher.

Town hopes mosquito dunks will
stem West Nile threat

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

Last summer, cases of West Nile Virus, a
disease that can cause severe and fatal illness in humans, birds and
horses, were confirmed in Colorado for the first time.

So far, human cases have been limited to the
Front Range but, since the virus was first discovered in New York in
1999, the second year of its advancement into an area has been much
quicker.

To help stem the spread of West Nile Virus,
the Town of Pagosa Springs has initiated a program to help residents
kill the carrier capable of passing the virus from birds to humans -
the mosquito.

Mosquitos, specifically the Culex tarsalis,
a medium-sized mosquito that feeds in the hours around dawn and dusk,
become infected when they feed on a bird carrying the virus in its
blood. From there, they can pass it on to other animals or
humans.

Some may never experience symptoms. A
minority of infected persons will develop a mild illness within 3-15
days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms include
fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes skin rash and swollen
glands.

In rare cases, West Nile Virus infection
results in a serious condition called West Nile Encephalitis, an
inflammation of the brain causing headaches, high fever, stiff neck,
stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness
and paralysis. A small number of infections have been fatal.

Horses are also susceptible to West Nile
Virus infection. However, a vaccine is available through
veterinarians.

The town's attempt at prevention requires
attacking mosquitos when they are most vulnerable - in water. In
the early stages of development, the mosquito can live in almost any
source of standing water, including irrigated fields, old tires, hoof
prints, flowerpots, tree holes or any puddle that lasts more than a
few days. Modifying or eliminating these types of breeding sites is
the only long-term solution to severe mosquito problems.

To help residents reduce the mosquito
numbers, the town is offering two free mosquito "dunks" to residents.
Each dunk contains enough Bti, a bacterium capable of producing a
protein crystal toxic only to mosquito or blackfly larva, to treat
100 square feet of water.

Julie Jessen, administrative intern for the
town said, according to studies, Bti is not toxic or pathogenic to
birds or freshwater fish. In fact, one study comparing the acute oral
toxicity levels of common materials showed Bti was less toxic that
sea water or table salt. However, it should not be applied directly
to treated, finished drinking water reservoirs or receptacles. Each
dunk is effective for a 30-day period.

Additional dunks can be purchased at local
hardware stores. Other preventative measures include:

- removing all standing water on
property

- changing water in birdbaths, wading pools
and flower pots on a bi-weekly basis

- removing old tires, buckets, pop cans and
any other containers that could collect water

- using care with children, apply insect
repellent to exposed skin when outdoors

- wearing socks, long pants and long sleeves
in the evening and morning hours when outside

- fixing or installing window screens to
keep mosquitos outside

- cleaning debris from rain gutters and
covering rain barrels.

To learn more about the town's program, stop
by Town Hall and pick up a pamphlet or call Jessen at 264-4151, Ext.
226.

For more information on West Nile Virus and
mosquitos, residents can call San Juan Basin Health Department at
264-2673, the National Pesticide Information Center at (800) 858-PEST
or check out the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Web site at www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/Zoonosis/zoonosis.asp.

One windfall, one shortfall for
schools

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

Surprise!

In fact, surprise twice. One good, one
bad.

That was the reaction of members of the
Board of Education for Archuleta School District 50 Joint Tuesday
night.

The good news first.

Nancy Schutz, business manager, reported to
the board that two representatives of Kinder-Morgan had
hand-delivered to the district offices a natural gas use refund check
totaling in excess of $24,200.

The refund, based on percentage of use in
the previous year, will be used to offset increased insurance costs
and loss of interest revenue.

And now for the other side of the
coin.

Schutz told the board the food service
operation had just received notice of a 150-percent increase in
federal commodities for the cafeteria program.

The federal program cost increased from 35
to 87 cents per case.

The board acknowledged there was no way to
plan for such an increase, and approved a program subsidy to allow
the food service enterprise to continue to operate.

Turning to finances of a statewide nature,
Superintendent Duane Noggle told the board it can probably expect
additional cuts in state funding as the legislature wrangles with a
huge deficit.

"We will feel fortunate if there are no cuts
in education," he said, noting that Amendment 23, approved by voters
last year, is coming under increased attack in the legislative halls
as solons look for ways to balance the budget.

He noted the early days of this session of
the Legislature have seen a spate of bills dealing with cutting the
deficit by dipping into educational programs.

Lower Blanco residents ask
speed controls; county agrees to survey

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

Excessive speeding, threats from passing
motorists and a high probability of accidents were some of the
concerns brought before Archuleta County commissioners Tuesday by
residents living along County Road 335.

Sheriff Tom Richards, speaking at the behest
of the residents, initiated a request to lower the current 30 mph
speed limit on the road, which is commonly known as Lower Blanco
Road, to a limit residents felt would be more appropriate.

"What they're asking for is a speed limit of
25 miles per hour," said Richards, "and I certainly have no objection
to that. I just would like to find out what the proper course of
action should be."

Commissioner Bill Downey acknowledged the
request and indicated that a speed survey would have to be completed
before the commissioners could act on the request. Richards
responded, "We'd be more than glad to assist in a survey, even if it
meant nothing more than using the radar gun."

Alden Ecker, board chairman, supported the idea but warned against a drastic reduction in the speed limit. "I think we should be careful not to lower it too low  to the point where people just won't do it and automatically break it."

The commissioners then heard complaints from
several residents who gave firsthand accounts of questionable driving
habits observed on the road.

Freda Whisman was the first to speak,
stating, "I have neighbors who have had near misses and near head-on
collisions." Whisman said she estimates some people are driving at
speeds approaching 50 mph and that yelling for such drivers to slow
down is futile.

"I had one person actually stop and threaten
me," said Whisman, adding that her husband had been involved in a
Jan. 3 accident as he was pulling out of their driveway. "We're
pleading with you to help us."

Next to speak was Frank Zellner. "I think we
have particular straightaways that entice speed before you get to the
curves," said Zellner, who recommended increased enforcement and
additional traffic signs in high-risk areas such as neighborhood bus
stops and turnarounds. "I appreciate the current enforcement, but I
feel it needs enhancement," said Zellner.

Another resident, Mark Smith, echoed
Zellner's sentiments, saying, "For some, there is always the
temptation to use that open space to make up for lost time."

Smith raised the possibility for the
installment of speed bumps along certain stretches. "Otherwise, no
matter what, people will always speed," said Smith, who speculated
the cost to install speed bumps would be less than the cost for more
sheriff's department patrols in the area and potential accident
investigations.

When Commissioner Mamie Lynch asked
residents if they were requesting more enforcement with respect to
the current situation or specifically a lower speed limit, Whisman
responded, "Both."

Whisman then asked Richards if it would do
any good to take down the license plate numbers of unlawful
motorists. Richards said it would, answering, "We'd be glad to run a
listing and visit with these people." Richards then reminded Whisman
that in the cases where citations were issued as a result, anyone who
issued the complaint would be called upon to testify in court.

Chairman Ecker then reassured the residents
that the county indeed has money in the budget earmarked for road
studies and improvements, but that sometimes the process to put the
money to work takes longer than some would like. "And we apologize
for the delay," said Ecker.

After hearing all public comment, Downey
moved to authorize the sheriff's department to perform a speed survey
on the road to determine the appropriate speed limit. Lynch seconded,
and the motion carried unanimously.

As a result, Richards said the sheriff's
department will initiate a speed survey during the road's high
traffic hours but did not give a specific timetable for completion of
the study.

In other business the commissioners:

- abolished the commissioner liaison system
of governing, and as a result the commissioners will no longer
personally oversee the responsibilities of county departments

- approved a renewal of an intergovernmental
agreement with Hinsdale County for the coordination of law
enforcement and emergency services

- approved a grant contract with the
Colorado Department of Transportation for the prevention and
investigation of underage drinking

- authorized Bill Steele, county
administrator, to represent the county at the closing proceedings for
the purchase of airport property

- approved a request from Pauline Benetti
for a donation in the amount of $200 to help cover the cost of
utilities for the 9Health Fair to be conducted at the high
school

- at the request of Rich Foss, county
maintenance director, approved a contract proposal from Iverson
Electric for electrical improvements in the dispatch office in the
amount of $9,016.

Weather

Date High Low Precipitation

Type Depth Moisture

2/5

35

7

-

-

-

2/6

33

1

-

-

-

2/7

30

-1

-

-

-

2/8

34

0

-

-

-

2/9

32

2

-

-

-

2/10

38

6

-

-

-

2/11

43

8

-

-

-

Chance for snow today; will
taper off by Saturday

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

A weakening low-pressure system spinning in
from Southern California should maintain enough strength to provide
Pagosa Country with some needed moisture today and tomorrow.

According to Norvan Larson, a National
Weather Service forecaster in the Grand Junction office, early
reports of significant accumulation are being scaled back as the
system creeps across the Four Corners region.

"The storm is not moving as fast as we
originally predicted, and is also breaking up as it travels across
drier land," said Larson, adding, "It's not packing as much punch as
it stretches to the east, but there's still a good chance for some
rain or snow."

As a result, Larson said the area can expect
to receive light rain at lower elevations and accumulations of 1-3
inches of snow at higher elevations as the weekend approaches.

According to Larson, there is a chance for
flurries throughout this morning which may change to rain in the
afternoon. Highs are expected to range in the lower to mid 40s; lows
should register in the mid 20s.

A 40-percent chance for rain or snow exists
in Friday's forecast, with high temperatures in the 40s and lows
ranging from the mid 20s to the low 30s.

Only a minimal chance for snow is forecast
for Saturday through Monday, and skies are expected to be overcast
with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s.

A 40-percent chance for precipitation
returns for Tuesday's forecast, and highs again should approach the
mid 40s while lows are predicted to dip into the upper teens.

A slight chance of rain or snow remains in
the forecast for Wednesday as highs are expected to hover around 50
and lows should register from the low teens to around 10.

Last week's average high temperature was 35;
the average low was 3. The peak temperature recorded last week was
Tuesday's high of 43, while the low of minus 1 was recorded Friday.
New precipitation last week amounted to zero.

Wolf Creek Ski Area reports a 68-inch base
at the summit and a midway depth of 55 inches. Snowpack in the Upper
San Juan River Basin is approximately 65 percent of average.
According to reports released by the National Resources Conservation
Service, the Pagosa area would need precipitation approaching 140
percent of average in the next two months to achieve normal snowpack
levels this year.

San Juan river flow measured south of town
ranged from below 20 cubic feet per second in the morning hours last
week to over 70 cubic feet per second in the afternoons.

Sports
Page

Parks &
Rec

Youth basketball finals
scheduled this week

By Joe Lister Jr.

SUN Columnist

The finals of the youth basketball league
have been set but the results will not be ready for this
issue.

In the 9-10 division, we have Lucero Tire
Lakers (league champions) going up against the Honda Hall
Sonics.

The 11-12 championship game has the Citizens
Bank Bulls facing August and Sons Excavating Kings.

In both championship games, the No. 1 seed
from league action is playing the No. 2 seed.

The league has been played very evenly with
many of our problems coming in the last few days as players and
coaches became more competitive.

Anytime you mention the words "first place"
or "tournament," the participants get a little more aggressive and a
little more verbal.

We would like everyone to step back and look
at the great number of participants, and the fact there was no real
drop in attendance as the league went on. This is a tribute to evenly
matched teams, coaches playing everyone their allotted quarters per
game, and the fact we had exclusive use of the community center to
try to get the athletes home at a decent time.

A thank you goes to all the wonderful local
businesses that sponsored teams and coaches who donated their time to
make the league a success.

Master plan

A meeting with the consultant took place
Friday in Fort Collins and I saw two rough drafts.

Those drafts and preliminary drawings should
be ready for an April public meeting, followed by a recreation
advisory board meeting to complete Phase 2 of the project.

Raw water feed

A quick update on progress of the raw water
feed that will serve the athletic fields in South Pagosa:
U-Can-Afford Landscaping is starting the watering project and will be
finished with the road bore soon. A triple-phase electricity
installation by LPEA will follow.

We are waiting for the proper permits from
the Army Corps of

Engineers to work in the river, and that
should happen within the next three to four weeks.

A service road from South 5th Street to the
river will be built between now and the end of March.

Adult basketball

Adult basketball begins next week with the
recreation league beginning play at the community center. Men's
competitive and women's leagues will begin play the week of Feb.
24.

If you are interested in playing this season
and do not have a team to play on, please contact the department at
264-4151, Ext. 232.

Referees needed

The department is looking for a few more
referees for the upcoming basketball season. If you understand the
game or have experience and are interested in refereeing games,
contact the recreation department at the number above. Ask for
Chris.

Boys bounce back, bury Bayfield
73-33

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

What a difference a day makes.

After an unsettling defeat at the hands of
Ignacio the night before in which his team sputtered, Pagosa Coach
Jim Shaffer uncorked lightning in a bottle Friday night against
Bayfield in front of another capacity home crowd eager to see the
Pirates bounce back.

And the Pirates obliged - bouncing the
Wolverines right out of the Intermountain League contest in a
quick-striking, high-octane first quarter assault from which Bayfield
would never recover.

Pagosa controlled the tip, but turned the
ball over on a traveling violation. And that's about all that went
wrong for the home team in what was arguably the finest quarter of
basketball the Pirates have put together this season.

From that point on, Shaffer's cagers played
like they'd sprinkled a few extra teaspoons of sugar on their cereal
that morning, zipping around the court in a rabid frenzy as a
shellshocked Bayfield team literally stood in awe.

Pagosa junior Clayton Spencer swatted away
the first Bayfield shot attempt, then a three-second call gave the
ball back to the Pirates. Pirate senior Jason Schutz quickly set the
tone with four straight from the block before Bayfield's Jake
Harrington got a pair for the visitors.

Spencer answered with two; then a Pirate
press resulted in a 10-second call on Bayfield. Brandon Charles made
good use of the turnover, lofting a perfect pass above the left side
of the rim which Pirate teammate Caleb Forrest met in midair, and his
two-handed crush put Pagosa up 8-2.

A steal netted two more for Forrest, then
Spencer got into the high-flying act, driving down the lane and
finishing with an emphatic slam to put the Pirates up 12-2.

Bayfield's Matt Gonzales got two, but Ryan
Goodenberger broke loose and sped downcourt to get two right back for
the Pirates, converting a layup with four minutes gone in the
first.

Bayfield got within seven at 14-7, but
wouldn't dent the Pirate defense for another point in the quarter.
Spencer and Schutz combined for the next Pagosa four, and Forrest got
three more from a free throw followed by a put-back jam on an
offensive rebound; Pagosa led 21-7.

The Pirates continued the onslaught,
stealing, blocking and scoring at a frenetic pace to close the
period. A steal by David Kern enabled Spencer to convert, then
Charles scored four straight and Goodenberger struck for two more
with under a minute left.

A Bayfield heave at the buzzer was off the
mark, and the pumped-up Pirates went to the sideline with a 29-7 lead
while the roar from the home crowd's standing ovation intensified.

Jeremy Caler hit a baseline trey to open
second-quarter scoring for the Pirates, and Schutz and Charles got
the next six as the Wolverine deficit grew throughout the quarter in
the shadow of a relentless Pagosa defense.

Kern converted from the stripe to put Pagosa
up 41-14 with just over a minute left, then Bayfield's Sam McDonald
hit a lone charity toss before Pirate guard Ty Faber sank a deep
three as time expired to give the Pirates a commanding 44-15 halftime
lead.

Schutz tipped home two for Pagosa to open
the third, and the Pirates continued to hustle on defense throughout
the quarter while stretching the lead over 30. The Wolverines could
manage only five points in the stanza, and trailed 57-20 at the start
of the fourth.

The Pirates never let up in the final
period, and finished strong behind the defense of Otis Rand and
Brandon Samples. Faber hit for five, and Coy Ross and Casey Belarde
pumped in three each for the Pirates. When the dust settled after the
horn, Pagosa had outscored the overmatched Wolverines by 40, winning
73-33.

Forrest paced the Pirates with 15 points,
followed by Charles, who had 10 assists and seven steals to go along
with 12 points. Schutz had 11 points, four assists and led in
rebounds with seven.

"It was a pretty amazing quarter for us. For
eight solid minutes we had kids flying around everywhere; we got into
an effective two-two-one press. We had a bunch of good things happen
on defense. It was just a heck of a quarter."

Shaffer was also pleased with the way his
team responded after the tough loss the previous night. "I've got to
give them credit for showing up and bouncing back. It would have been
easy to have an emotional letdown after what happened last night, but
they fought through it and came to play."

Shaffer credited the Pirate fans with a
large part of his team's success and energy throughout the night and
the season in general.

"I can't say enough about our crowd. All
year long this has been a great atmosphere to play in, and tonight
again the guys fed off the crowd and were excited even before the
game began," said Shaffer. "We hope that's not our last home game."

The win pushed Pagosa's overall record to
15-2 and 5-1 in IML contests. In light of Ignacio's loss to Centauri
Saturday night, the Pirates control their own destiny and can secure
the league title and an automatic bid for the state playoffs with
wins tomorrow night at Centauri and next Saturday at Monte
Vista.

Game time for tomorrow's matchup, to be held
in the Centauri Middle School gym, is set for 7 p.m.

They may have been reading the same game
plan, but rarely were Coach Jim Shaffer's Pirates pulling bookmarks
from the same page.

Such was the case Thursday night in a hotly
contested but often sloppy Intermountain League battle with Ignacio
inside a packed Pagosa Springs High School gymnasium.

Ignacio came to town looking to avenge their
only loss of the season, suffered Jan. 21 on their home court against
Pagosa. And in the midst of numerous and uncanny miscues, plus some
plain ol' bad luck, the Pirates returned the favor.

Things started out OK for the Pirates; after
Ignacio's Lorenzo Rodriguez was called for a travel on his team's
opening possession, Pirate senior Brandon Charles sank two free
throws after being fouled on a drive to put Pagosa up 2-0.

Ben Neil answered for the Bobcats before
Pagosa's Caleb Forrest got his first two, and Pagosa led 4-2. It
would prove to be the home team's last lead of the game. Neil scored
to pull Ignacio even, then struck for two more to give his team a
permanent lead at 6-4.

Pagosa got a free throw from Senior Jason
Schutz, but mishandled the ball repeatedly to allow the Bobcats to
jump out to a 10-5 lead. Forrest tipped home a miss by teammate
Clayton Spencer to draw Pagosa within three, but Ignacio's Laramy
Miller and Mike Jefferson got three straight to extend the lead to
13-7.

Spencer kept the Pirates close with a
left-handed tip before the Bobcats capitalized on more Pagosa errors
to go up 17-9. Forrest put up four in the final minute for Pagosa and
Charles sank a free throw, but at the end of one the Bobcats held the
lead at 19-14.

Ball control was a nagging problem for the
Pirates throughout the contest, and two straight giveaways to a
Bobcat trap to open the second period enabled Ignacio to widen the
gap to nine at 23-14.

Spencer hit the front end of a one-and-one
to cut the lead to eight, but Ignacio's Chris Phillips drilled a trey
to extend the lead to double digits. Ignacio led 26-15 with under
five minutes left in the half.

The Pirates fought to get back into a rhythm
on offense, but couldn't find the handle on several passes and
flirted with a double digit deficit throughout the stanza.

Meanwhile, Ignacio continued to light up the
scoreboard from all over the court, missing only occasionally during
a red-hot shooting streak.

A jumper by Pagosa's Ty Faber and drive by
Ryan Goodenberger got the Pirates to within 10 at 30-20. But
turnovers prevented Pagosa from doing further damage until the
three-minute mark, when Schutz hit two from the stripe to get his
team within eight at 30-22.

Junior Brandon Samples followed suit with
one from the line to get the Pirates as close as seven before the lid
slammed shut on the Pirate rim and the wheels came off down the
stretch.

In the final two minutes, the Pirates had
several layups spin out, gave away the ball and were called for
several frustration fouls to trail by 13 at the half, 36-23.

The third started out no differently, and
even with five points from Spencer, two from Forrest and a trey from
Goodenberger, in light of more giveaways the Pirate deficit grew to
18 at the halfway point. They trailed 51-33.

Then Spencer and Forrest, with assistance
from Goodenberger and Jeremy Caler, were able to pry the rim open,
and the Pirates put together a run to cut the lead to nine by
period's end. They trailed 54-45.

The crowd was into it early in the fourth
and their enthusiasm for a Pirate comeback grew on the heels of a
Goodenberger jumper that got Pagosa within seven with just over five
minutes left in the game.

Then, on Pagosa's next possession, came a
call that left many home fans in attendance a bit puzzled, to say the
least.

With a chance to get within five,
Goodenberger drove down the home sideline, came to a jump-stop, and
was plowed over by an Ignacio defender. Then came the whistle, a
pushing indication from the referee trailing the play, and the
subsequent foul call - on Goodenberger.

The call, coupled with six straight Pirate
misses and a possible goaltending call on a Caler layup that was
ruled a clean block off the glass, sapped the momentum from Shaffer's
team.

Although the Pirates pulled to within five
behind late baskets by Spencer and David Kern, they were forced to
foul in the waning 90 seconds. As a result, Pagosa suffered only its
second loss of the season and first in league play, losing 67-59.

Spencer led all scorers with 20, followed by
Forrest with 14. Goodenberger led in assists with 6. The Pirates
totaled 23 turnovers.

After the loss, which gave the Pirates a
14-2 overall record and 4-1 IML mark, Shaffer said his team's
performance was the reflection of a couple weeks of poor
practice.

"In a nutshell, we played tonight like we've
been practicing the last two weeks. We didn't practice well, and its
human nature to eventually play like you practice and tonight it
caught up with us."

Shaffer took nothing away from Ignacio's
effort, which tied them with Pagosa for the league lead, saying,
"They came in here and took it to us, and we didn't respond well
offensively or defensively tonight."

Shaffer explained that perhaps some
positives could result from the stinging loss. "We can't change it,
but we can learn some things from it. I hope it's a huge wakeup
call," said Shaffer, adding, "It's not the end of the world."

The Pirates travel to Centauri tomorrow
night for a crucial IML contest. Tip off, at the middle school gym,
is 7 p.m.

The Pagosa Springs Lady Pirates have
suddenly become a feisty force in the Intermountain League, one with
a possible new motto: Refuse to Lose.

After opening league play on a 0-3 skid, the
Ladies have surged back to a 3-3 league record, avenging two of the
three losses.

At no time has the refuse-to-lose mantra
been more evident than on their home court Saturday when they
defeated Bayfield 46-42.

They had chances to lose but wouldn't take
them. They had opportunities to fade in the stretch. But refused to
succumb.

For example:

- They were outrebounded for the first time
this season, 24-23, with 13 of Bayfield's boards going to Kim Picolli
alone.

But Picolli, normally the Lady Wolverines
floor leader, had perhaps her worst shooting night ever, hitting just
three of 16 from the floor while under continuous harassment from
Pirate defenders.

- Pagosa's leading scorer, Caitlyn Jewell,
was in early foul trouble and had an off night, finishing with just
seven points.

- The Lady Pirates continued their largesse,
committing 17 unforced turnovers, one of their lower totals for the
season.

- Having lost to Bayfield by 13 on the
Wolverines' home court, the Pagosans could have thrown in the towel
early, but refused to lose. For the second consecutive game, they
shot over 60 percent from the floor and played tight shifting
defense.

The squads exchanged baskets infrequently in
a "feel-'em-out" first period that ended in an 8-8 tie. Shannon and
Lori Walkup each had a field goal for Pagosa with Bri Scott adding
one from the floor and two from the foul line.

Bayfield responded with single field goals
from Jamie Hill, who would be their leading scorer in the game with
12, Cassie Dunavant, Ashley Hahn and Jackie Shaw, her only points of
the contest.

Scott drilled a trey to open the second
quarter and open a three-point lead for the homestanding Pagosans.
Freshman forward Caitlin Forrest added to the margin with an
eight-foot hook shot and the lead was five.

But Picolli finally hit her first shot,
after six tries, was fouled and added the free throw to cut Pagosa's
margin.

With Jewell having picked up a pair of early
fouls, coach Bob Lynch went to the bench for freshman center Emily
Buikema who scored inside on her first touch.

Hill came back with a free throw and field
goal for Bayfield, but Buikema muscled her way to two more field
goals and with 3:24 left in the half, Pagosa was up 18-14.

Then the opportunities to lose began to
appear for both sides. Neither could score and there were seven
turnovers and two blocked shots by Buikema as neither team was able
to score again before halftime.

Bayfield wasn't done - but neither was
Buikema.

Scott and Shannon Walkup each hit short
jumpers to hike the Pagosa lead to 22-14, but Lacy Beck hit a long
trey, her only score of the game, to bring the

Wolverines back. Hill hit two in a row from
the floor and Dunavant added one as the visitors stormed back to a
26-26 tie with 2:38 left in the period. Jewell, back in the game on a
tandem post setup with Buikema, hit her first points with a spin move
to the right, was fouled and converted the free throw.

Picolli and Hahn each scored a field goal
and two free throws before Buikema hit three from the stripe and
another field goal to put Pagosa up 33-30 at the three quarter
mark.

With Dunavant hitting for four and Hahn for
three, Bayfield cut the Pagosa lead to 35-33 with just 42 seconds
gone in the period, the lone Pagosa answer a long jumper from Scott
on the right side.

Then it was Jewell hitting a quick pair
inside before Hill answered with a deuce for Bayfield and Pagosa led
39-37 with 5:10 remaining.

Each of the Walkups converted a field goal
and Scott added a free throw as Pagosa held the shaky lead at 44-42
with 26 seconds left.

Shannon Walkup was fouled and went to the
line with a 1 and 1 opportunity.

Her shot rimmed out but Buikema was there
for the rebound and putback, giving Pagosa the final 46-42
margin.

With 18 seconds and no time- outs left,
Bayfield's final desperation shot was six feet short and Buikema had
the ball needing only a pass to Scott to end the game.

The Lady Pirates hit 18 of 38 from the floor
and nine of 13 from the foul stripe while Bayfield had a dismal 17 of
49 from the floor but a respectable 10 of 17 from the free throw
line.

Buikema led Pagosa in scoring with 14, and
in rebounds with six, three at each end. Scott had 10 points and four
rebounds. Lori Walkup and Jewell each had seven points and four
rebounds and Shannon Walkup had six points and three rebounds.

The victory put Pagosa in the middle of the
IML pack at 3-3 with another chance for revenge coming up this week
when they travel to Centauri for a 5:30 p.m. Valentine's Day
encounter.

Pagosa lost to Centauri at home 55-32 on
Jan. 18 in the league opener, the loss coming a week after Lori
Walkup went down with a broken bone in her hand and missed the next
five games.

Centauri currently sits atop the league at
5-1, having lost only to Bayfield. Bayfield is second with losses to
Pagosa and Monte Vista. The Lady Pirates are third, Ignacio fourth at
2-3 and Monte Vista fifth at 1-4.

Shooting accuracy, both from the floor and
the free throw line, has been elusive for the Pagosa Springs Lady
Pirates - until Thursday night.

They found their groove and secured their
second consecutive Intermountain League victory, after three league
losses, downing the Ignacio Lady Bobcats 60-56 in a home court
barnburner.

After stopping Monte Vista the previous
Saturday by shooting over 60 percent from the floor, Pagosa's ladies
hit 21 of 33 from the floor against Ignacio for 63 percent
marksmanship.

But it was free throw shooting, a sore point
with Coach Bob Lynch for several games, which actually made the
difference.

After going five of 21 from the line against
Monte Vista, Lynch had players shooting in the early morning before
class and after practice in the evening, trying to overcome clankers
and air balls from the stripe.

It paid off with an 18 of 29 performance for
62 percent against Ignacio.

Still, with the Lady Bobcats raining three
pointers down, it was a close game throughout.

Pagosa opened quickly, racing to a 10-0 lead
on the inside shooting of sophomore center Caitlyn Jewell and the
jump shots of Bri Scott.

But the Bobcats, with the usual
troublemakers Katie Whiteskunk, Raegena Thompson and Carol Lee
Jefferson, stormed right back, each of them canning a first period
trey.

Pagosa's senior captains, Shannon Walkup and
Katie Bliss, each added a pair of markers in the first period as did
freshman guard Liza Kelly.

By the end of the quarter Pagosa was up
16-13.

Ignacio battled into the lead early in the
second on treys from Thompson and Jefferson.

But Lynch went to his new double post lineup
with Jewell and freshman Emily Buikema and the pair responded with
six points apiece in the stanza.

Scott contributed a driving left hander and
Lori Walkup added a free throw as Pagosa scored 15 in the period.

Thompson, Whiteskunk and Jen Ruybal,
meanwhile, were adding deuces for Ignacio. At the half, Pagosa still
led by a slim three points, 31-28.

Thompson drilled another three-pointer and a
deuce early in the third to give Ignacio a short-lived lead, but
Scott, Shannon Walkup and Bliss each answered with two-pointers and
Jewel drilled four from the charity stripe. Ruybal and Stephanie
Rivera converted on inside drives for Ignacio and Pagosa's lead was
cut to 41-39 after three periods.

That lead grew rapidly in the fourth as Lori
Walkup became a Pirate with a mission.

First, she captured a defensive rebound,
drove the length of the court and scored, being fouled in the
process.

She converted the free throw, then stole
Ignacio's inbound pass and scored again, almost before the Lady
Bobcats had time to sharpen their claws for the final period and just
like that Pagosa had a seven point lead.

The Bobcats weren't through, however, and
found a new source of frustration for Pagosa.

Maria Rivera, a 5-7 sophomore who had been
0-3 for the game suddenly caught fire.

She drilled two treys and a pair of free
throws.

Scott answered with a 14-foot jumper and
then drilled four in a row from the free throw line to give the lead
back to Pagosa.

Shannon Walkup hit a jumper from the lane on
a corner feed from Bliss and the Pirates were a little more at
ease.

But a last-second overtime shot which
defeated them in Ignacio had the Ladies wary of another Ignacio
comeback.

While Jefferson tried to answer Pagosa's
free throw flurry with four of her own, the 'Cats got only one more
field goal, by junior Kyra Bartley.

The Lady Pirates, meanwhile, were parading
to the line as Ignacio had to foul to try to regain possession.
Thompson, Whiteskunk and Ruybal each fouled out down the
stretch.

The Pirates used those trips to the line for
five more points, two each by Mollie Honan and Buikema and one by
Kelly.

Without Whiteskunk to control their offense,
Ignacio went 0-5 from the floor in the last 90 seconds and Pagosa had
a 60-56 victory, making them 2-3 in the IML and 8-8 for the
season.

After the game, Lynch was extremely pleased
with the free throw shooting performance and even more pleased that
both from the line and the floor his Ladies were over 60
percent.

Still to be cured, however, is the Pirates'
turnover proclivity. The Ladies relinquished possession 23 times, or
the victory margin could have been much higher.

The Pagosa height advantage, too, was
evident in the final statistics, a 31-19 edge for the home team,
paced by eight each from Lori Walkup and Jewell and seven by
Buikema.

Despite all their three-pointers, Ignacio's
Lady Bobcats hit only 18 of 52 shots from the floor, a 34-percent
figure which had coach Dwayne Odoms perplexed.

Several times he cautioned his team about
shooting too quickly and not working for the open chance.

With a 41-32 dual-meet win over Monte Vista
Feb. 6 Pirate wrestlers finished their regular season schedule in
second place in the Intermountain League standings.

The IML title is determined on the basis of
dual meets with each of the league schools. Pagosa won meets against
Ignacio, Bayfield and Monte Vista and lost to league champ
Centauri.

The win over Monte Vista, at Monte Vista,
solidified the Pirates' grip on second place and propels the team
into this weekend's regional tournament at Colorado Springs.

At Monte, Pagosa took forfeits from the
hosts at 189 pounds and at 140. Pagosa forfeited at 119 and 275 so
the meet came down to matches wrestled.

Darren Hockett has not been beat in a long
time. The Pirate 103-pounder continued his win streak at Monte,
scoring four team points with a 15-5 major decision over Kyle
Francis.

Junior Michael Martinez kept up his streak
at 112. Martinez stopped Monte's Matt Gonzalez, putting the
opponent's shoulders to the mat in the second period of the
match.

At 125, Mike Maestas created some momentum
going into the regional tournament with a win by injury default over
James Pacheco. Maestas got the win when Pacheco couldn't continue in
the third period.

Justin Bloomquist got a win at 130. The
Pirate put six points on the team score when he pinned Quentin Burke
in the second period.

Aaron Hamilton won at 145. The junior scored
a 14-7 decision over Clayton Weaver.

Clayton Mastin took a dramatic 5-4 decision
at 160. Mastin and his opponent were tied 3-3 before the Monte
wrestler managed an escape to take a 4-3 lead. Mastin nailed the
takedown and two points with 10 seconds left on the clock.

"We had a lot of guys sick," said Coach Dan
Janowsky. "Kids on both sides were sick, but our guys who felt well
wrestled well."

The meet was originally scheduled as a
tri-meet with Pagosa meeting Monte Vista and La Junta in duals. La
Junta cancelled the trip due to inclement weather on the
plains.

"We were disappointed La Junta didn't make
it," said the coach, "but the win over Monte was good for us. I'm
pleased to finish 3-1 in league matches, in second place. I'd love to
have the dual we lost to Centauri back, but they don't do it that
way."

Janowsky said the win over Monte was
significant. "I thought, in terms of the matchups, it would be a
problem for us. But we're wrestling pretty solid and we're wrestling
consistently."

Friday, the Pirates are at the regional
qualifying tournament at St. Mary's High School in Colorado Springs.
The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the state
tournament at Denver the following week.

"We're giving away three weights and taking
11 guys," said Janowsky of the regional meet. "I think each of our
guys has chance at this meet. A lot of our wrestlers should have a
good chance to advance. I think the tournament will be real
balanced."

Action at St. Mary's begins with a
preliminary round at 4 p.m. Friday. Following that round, the
quarterfinals will be contested Friday night.

Saturday, action begins with a consolation
round at 10 a.m. The semifinals are up next with finals set for
approximately 6 p.m.

Pagosans have top times in Wolf
Creek fun races

With only nine persons entered on the
distaff side, there was plenty of room for medals for women in the
sixth fun races of the season Saturday at Wolf Creek Ski Area.

Carrie Weisz of Pagosa Springs, with a run
of 31.73 seconds in the women's 51-60 bracket, had the quickest
female time for the day.

On the men's side, Kyle Frye of Pagosa,
running in boys' 18-20, had the quickest time, skiing the course in
25.30.

Weisz was followed by Kris Foster of Chicago
in 37.39 and Katherine Cruse of Pagosa in 38.14.

Frye was chased by Adam Zamora of Farmington
in 32.59 and Chris Tautges of Germany in 36.23.

Other times for women included 43.23 for
Lacey Wilcox of Oklahoma City in girls' 12-14; 39.28 for Synthia
Barsun of San Antonio in women's 23-30; 34.00 for Ronda Higvy and
47.49 for Christie Spears, both of Pagosa in the women's 36-40
bracket; 36.70 for Laurie Walston of Pagosa in women's 41-50; and
38.21 for Windsor Chacey of Pagosa in women's 61 and over.

With 43 racers on the male side, competition
for medals was more intense.

In the smaller brackets, however, there was
only one entry in each with Zach Devooght of Pagosa winning boys' 3-5
in 1:24.61 and Jackson Wilcox of Oklahoma City capturing boys' 6-8 in
50.73.

In boys' 9-11, it was an all-Pagosa run with
Nick Jackson winning in 33.00, Seth Rizzo second in 33.13 and Mitch
Higvy third in 34.44.

Boys' 18-20 went to Paul Muirhead of Pagosa
in 29.98 with Foster Wilcox of Oklahoma City second in 33.95 and
Derik Monkz of Pagosa third in 34.38.

J.R. Hudnall of Pagosa took boys' 15-17 in
34.82 with Carl Echel of Albuquerque second in 38.91 and Jacob Munoz
of Fort Worth third in 42.12.

Richard Parker of Durango won men's 21-25 in
32.62 and David Treat of Oklahoma captured men's 36-40 in
33.05.

Men's 41-50 went to Dean Foster of Chicago
in 30.57. Will Spears of Pagosa was second in 31.44 and Tom Schoemig
of Pagosa third in 32.64.

Duncan Thayer of Alpine Village won men's
51-60 in 26.99. Albert Semara of Farmington was second in 31.35 and
Don Barsun of San Antonio third in 32.45.

Herm Ator of Pagosa won men's 61 and over in
26.89, with Bryant Lemon of Pagosa second in 28.18 and Ron Chacey of
Pagosa third in 28.61.

Next races will be Sunday, the President's
Race competition.

Obituaries

Scott Smith

On Feb. 6, 2003 at 5:50 a.m., his favorite
time of the day, Scott Smith passed on from this life. He was an
outdoorsman, a master craftsman, photographer and a loving father,
brother and son.

He loved his music, literature, travel,
golf, a good cigar and a long laugh with friends. He lived with a
little bit of outlaw, country, rock and roll, and a whole lot of
love.

He did things his way, on his terms, in his
time, and did it beautifully.

He arrived in Pagosa Springs with a dream,
in the winter of 1978, and found a home, made a family, and left an
incredible legacy.

Scott leaves many family members who will
miss him dearly. His two children, Jennifer and Troy Smith are
attending College of the Redwoods in Eureka, Calif.; his mother,
Donna Mack, his sister, Nancy Ethington, his brother-in-law Greg
Ethington, and his niece Heather Ethington, all live in Iowa where
Scott was born. They held a memorial in Iowa for Scott this week. His
loving stepsister and special friend, Mary Mack, cared for him
throughout his illness. Mary and her husband, Dan O'Connor, live in
Greeley; Scott's stepsister, Betsy Barker in Ohio, and stepbrother
Bill Mack in Connecticut, survive him. His father, Robert Smith, and
his stepfather, Dr. Wilmoth Mack, preceded him in death.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, over a hundred people
gathered by the bridge in Juanita to tell stories, to enjoy a laugh
at Scott's expense and to cry together. Two golden eagles flew over
the San Juan River as they smoked cigars and said good-bye to their
dear friend.

Very few people are loved by as many souls
as Scott. He left an impact on everyone he knew. He will always be
admired for his courage, his conviction, and his passion for
life.

He was truly unique in every sense of the
word. We will miss his laughter, his stories, his sense of humor and
that twinkle in his eyes.

Born in Indiana Harbor, Ind., to Louis
Sterling and Ana Catherine (Weschsler) Sterling, he was married in
Highland Park , Calif., to Patricia Adams, who survives. He and Patty
moved to Pagosa Springs in 1987.

A member of the National Honor Society,
Safety Council, yearbook committee and a stage crew manager in high
school, Sterling later became a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps
and had detached service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. The owner
and manager of a printing business, he became a manufacturer's
representative for business machine makers.

A member of the Unitarian-Universalist
Congregation in Pagosa Springs, he was a founder of the group and
recently a member of its steering committee.

He was a former (1988) president of the
Senior Citizens organization, founder of the Pagosa Springs Relay for
Life, and enjoyed reading, politics, and writing letters to the
editor.

Mr. Sterling was preceded in death by a
brother, Harold and a sister, Sylvia.

Survivors in addition to his wife are two
daughters, Sally Sterling Salina of Atascadero, Calif., and Amy
Sterling (Davies) of Plano, Texas; sons Scott Adams Sterling of
Dripping Springs, Texas, and Andrew Louis Sterling of Austin, and two
nephews.

A service will be held at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday in St. Patrick's Episcopal Church on South Pagosa Boulevard,
with burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery in Pagosa Springs.

A community pot luck will be held at the St.
Patrick's Parish Hall following services. All are invited to attend
and to bring a dish and beverage to share.

After 85 minutes in executive session Tuesday, the board of
education for Archuleta School District 50 Joint, announced it had
extended the contract of Superintendent Duane Noggle through June 30,
2005.

The action followed mandatory review and evaluation of the
superintendent's performance since he was hired to replace Terry
Alley two years ago.

With the extension comes a salary increase from $85,000 annually
to a new level of $89,250.

In other personnel action, the board approved appointment of Mark
Young as an assistant high school baseball coach and added Mike
Bradford and Tom Aiello as volunteer assistant baseball coaches.

Boys' baseball and girls' soccer practice begins Feb. 18, with
first games expected in March as final schedules are being reworked.

In his monthly report to the board, Noggle noted state funding for
textbooks and breakfast programs already have been cut.

The book allowance, added business manager Nancy Schutz, was
$31,000, a figure well below what the district regularly spends.

Noggle also made a presentation on the district's new FirstClass
online e-mail system within district offices, an upgraded network in
which each employee has a desktop address.

Though there have been some bugs in the system, particularly at
the elementary school, he said, overall it is working as anticipated
as the problems are being worked out.

Reviewing the board's proposed strategic plan which will be up for
approval next month, director Carol Feazel questioned the wording,
wondering aloud, "Who is it for?"

Told by Noggle it is intended as a guide for "the administration
to carry out the goals of the board," she withdrew her language
objections.

Director Randall Davis, board president, said he views it as "a
way of keeping track of what we feel is important, of keeping in
touch with how our decisions are being incorporated into daily
policy."

He asked board members if anyone wanted to add more in terms of
board goals or if anyone found anything wrong with the proposed
statement.

When there were no comments, Davis asked, "Is it workable? Are
there too many objectives contained therein?"

Noggle told the board it is his opinion the plan "is definitely
workable. If we find it is not we can come back to the board with the
specific problem.

"We view it as a living document," he said, "a guide to the
district's direction in the future."

It will be an agenda item for decision at next month's meeting.

Finally, in a proposed analysis of its own performance, the board
seemed reluctant to act on suggested formal self-evaluation.

"Is there a need?" asked Davis. "Is there any benefit to our
function as a board? How effective can something like this be?"

Noggle said it is a recommended action by state and national
school board associations and there are two means, one very detailed
and a second less intrusive version.

Feazel led the opposition.

"Were a small enough board that we should be able to discuss these
things among ourselves and reach livable decisions," she said.

"I see a redundancy here," said Feazel. "We've covered a lot of
the topics suggested in the form in our actions creating operational
plans and guidelines. I can't see any value in coming up with a grade
point rating for ourselves."

She said she can see value "in looking at ourselves as an integral
unit, but we do that regularly as we attack problems and render
decisions.

"We just do it in a more informal way," she concluded.

Davis suggested the evaluation might provide a chance to "reflect
on what we do as a board, what is good about it and what needs to be
changed."

Noggle told the board a checklist would be a good idea, with the
relationship between superintendent and board continually evaluated
and developed.

Feazel agreed, noting, "We all look at our decisions as we make
them and afterward. We have no personal agendas, we give ourselves a
chance to succeed by acting in accord."

There is a legitimate issue, she said, "about how a board handles
itself," but added, "we have been able to communicate with each other
on both personal and professional levels. If we disagree, we feel
free to say so. If we agree, we make a decision reflecting that
agreement."

Not her fault: don't call
assessor with tax complaints

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

It seems county property tax statements for 2002 sent out in
mid-January are causing a lot of headaches, not only for those
receiving them, but for staff at the county assessor's office who are
handling a multitude of misplaced complaints concerning increased
taxes.

According to Keren Prior, the county assessor, the office has been
flooded with calls from property owners within the county and around
the country with complaints ranging from "This is taxation without
representation" to "Why did you raise my property value?"

"We're trying to get people to understand that this office doesn't
approve any increase or decrease in mill levies, the voters within
each district do," said Prior, adding, "And except in cases of new
construction or home additions, assessed property values for 2002
have remained the same (as in 2001) for the most part."

Nor does the assessor's office establish any mill levy rates to be
voted on by the public, the individual taxing entities do (School
District 50 Jt, Upper San Juan Health Service District, etc.).

What property owners are wrestling with this year is an apparent
confusion of the relationship between assessed values and higher mill
levies. Some are dealing with tax bills that, in most cases, are a
great deal higher than the year before due to the passage of sizable
increases in mill levies for the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation
District and Pagosa Fire Protection District - and not increases in
assessed property values.

What those who owe may not realize is, unless they see an assessed
value on their 2002 statements exceeding that of the 2001 statement,
the county assessor's office has absolutely nothing to do with the
increases.

The assessor appraises the market value of property according to
rules set forth by the state of Colorado. The assessor then
calculates the assessed value based on formulas provided by the state
and in accordance with rules established for each class of property,
then notifies the corresponding taxing entities in August of each
year, stating the assessed values of each property within that
entity's boundaries.

Each entity (or district) then develops a budget for the following
year using assessed values provided by the assessor, and the
subsequent tax rates are established by each entity and reflect the
need for increases (or decreases) in revenue.

So why the inflated bills? To reiterate, most of the high price
tag can be attributed to last year's voter-approved higher mill
levies, namely the passage of the PAWS bond issue resulting in a mill
levy of 18.726. That's about three times the amount levied, or taxed,
against assessed values the year before in District 1.

Now for the math. For simplicity, assume an actual property value
of $100,000, keeping in mind that actual values in the county are
often much higher.

If you own any type of property other than residential, 29 percent
of the actual value (in this case $29,000) is the assessed value, the
amount used to calculate what you owe to each taxing entity and is
the figure listed above the actual value on the property tax
statement. (The 29-percent rate is established in TABOR, and does not
vary year to year.)

How is the amount owed to each entity determined? To determine
this amount, multiply the assessed value of the property by the
number of mills levied by a particular district, converting the mills
to a decimal.

For this example, when the PAWS levy of 18.726 is converted to a
decimal, or .018726, and multiplied by $29,000, the amount owed
equals $543.05.

Residential assessed values are figured at the rate of
approximately 9 percent of the actual value, which, using the same
$100,000 actual value as in the previous example, would amount to
about $9,000. Multiply $9,000 by the PAWS levy (.018726) and the
taxes owed equal roughly $169.00.

Anyone seeking information pertaining to mill levies and
subsequent tax increases in a particular district should contact that
district, and not the assessor's office.

Before calling the assessor's office with questions concerning
assessed property values, Prior recommends taking a glance at 2001's
property tax statement to make sure there is indeed an increase.

"I don't normally raise an assessed value on a yearly basis unless
there has been a change on the property which would affect its
value," said Prior, "and a quick glance at the two statements will
usually answer any questions."

Bankers offering
scholarship

Bank of the San Juans and the Independent Bankers of Colorado are
offering a student scholarship program and at least two Colorado high
school seniors will receive $1,000 stipends.

Qualifications to receive a scholarship are a GPA of 3.0 or
higher; acceptance at a Colorado college or university as a full-time
student; have an account (or parents who have an account) at Bank of
the San Juans for six months or more and completion of an
application.

Applicants will be judged on their response to an essay question
as well as academic performance, standards test scores,
extracurricular activities and references.

Deadline for submitting applications to Bank of the San Juans is
March 14. Winners will be announced the first week in May.

Pick up applications at Bank of the San Juans, 305 Hot Springs
Blvd. in Pagosa Springs or at 144 E. 8th St., Durango.

For more information, call Angelia Cook at 247-1818.

Pagosa woman remembers Columbia
astronauts

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

Since the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart re-entering the
Earth's atmosphere Feb. 1, the nation has mourned the loss of seven
brave astronauts.

Thousands gathered for the memorial service at Johnson Space
Center Feb. 4.

At least one woman who worked with the astronauts for about a
decade couldn't be there. Instead, she taped the service from Pagosa
Springs, a tape she still hasn't watched all the way through.

"For me they were not only my colleagues, but my friends," Vicki
Wood said. Wood, who has a background in business, worked for United
Space Alliance in the Astronaut Office and the Space Station Program
Office at Johnson Space Center from 1990 until moving to Pagosa in
June of 2001. In both places, she worked with the astronauts to
prepare the equipment needed for flight.

"We interfaced between them and the organizations within NASA and
the contractors to make sure they had what was needed," she said.
That included items like seats, clothing, cameras, food and, once, a
musical instrument.

Planning for flights sometimes started years before the actual
launch, especially when it came to the space station, Wood said.

"We started planning three and a half or four years before the
first station launch," she said.

In her years of service, she worked with most of the astronauts,
including those killed in the recent accident. The Israeli astronaut,
Col. Ilan Ramon, had offices right next door. Wood remembered saying
hello in the hallways.

"We wanted input from the astronauts so we could make a better
mousetrap for them to use, make them more comfortable on orbit," she
said.

She spent about a year working directly for Kalpana Chawla,
another one of the seven killed aboard Columbia. "We called her
K.C.," Wood said. "She was a nice person, very intelligent."
Together, they helped develop space station philosophy regarding
equipment.

Safety, she said, was always a number-one priority, but it was
also a goal of the program to find ways to improve the quality of
life of the astronauts on the station.

All were dedicated astronauts and wonderful people, Wood said.
They were following a dream that, for many, is in the blood from a
very early age. They died living that dream.

"That Saturday morning my husband called me from Texas and told me
'NASA's lost Columbia,'" Wood said. In disbelief, she turned on the
television. "About that time they had a picture of the crew on and I
just lost it."

Wood is a second-generation member of the aerospace community. Her
father worked at Kennedy Space Center where she grew up watching
Gemini and Apollo launches. Her husband also retired from NASA.

"The whole community down there (the suburb around the space
center) is focused in aerospace," she said. "It's a very family-type
atmosphere."

Although mention of the tragedy brings fresh tears to her eyes,
she said the dream of space exploration can't and won't end with
Columbia.

"They will fly again," she said. "I think young people in this
country will continue to want to go into space. So many discoveries
have been a direct benefit of the space program. It won't end here."

Legion helps Lutheran students
study our flag

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

The American flag has seen all the battles, all the deaths, all
the joys, all the heroes the nation has had to offer.

It has flown over capitals, schools, businesses, private homes and
business offices.

But how much do your children know about the flag, what it means,
and how to honor it?

Students and staff at Our Saviour Lutheran School in Pagosa
Springs are out to make sure flag knowledge and etiquette are
understood in their facilities.

The school will have an honor guard to raise the flag each morning
and children will be expected to offer proper honors as the flag is
raised.

On Friday, the program was kicked off with special visitors and a
special flag.

U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Ignacio had sent the school a
flag which flew over the nation's capitol in Washington, D.C.

On hand to raise it for the first time were a contingent from
Mullins-Nickerson American Legion Post 108 in Pagosa Springs.

The ceremony was marked by a rifle salute and an explanation to
the students about how and why the flag is to fly.

Following the events outdoors, the Legion personnel went inside
with the students to give lessons on flag history, how and when it is
to be flown, how it is saluted and honored, and when it is to be
retired.

Rev. Richard Boland, Our Savior pastor, offered a prayer for the
nation and its personnel serving under the flag as the threat of war
looms.

He also acknowledged the Legion presentation and told the children
Legionnaires should be honored for service they have given their
country, just as has the flag they were learning how to salute.

The event concluded with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by
students, staff and Legion members and guests.

Letters

War's not answer

Dear Editor:

Those who oppose the war unanimously hold one belief: there do
exist peaceful alternatives to the conflict with Iraq. We would
undoubtedly win the war, but at what cost of Iraqi and American
lives? We would win the war, but could we sustain the peace? How long
would American soldiers have to enforce an uneasy peace?

This war will create more enemies for us, turn our allies against
us, create more terrorism for us. If Saddam Hussein has stockpiled
weapons of mass destruction, then what do we think will happen to
them when war destabilizes Iraq? What hands will they fall into and
against whom will they be targeted? The only victory that will truly
endure in this crisis will come if no one is defeated.

We must refuse to accept war as an inevitable condition for
mankind. Man is a rational being, but we cannot make rational choices
when we are afraid. Sept. 11, 2001 drove fear deep into the hearts of
Americans. Like a cornered beast, many have wanted to lash out at
those who injured us so terribly. Those lives lost on that fearful
day, however, must not have died in vain, but attacking Iraq would
make that so; we would not have learned from their deaths that
violence is not the answer, that violence and fear only lead to more
violence in a never-ending, ever-widening circle. We must realize
that while conflict is inevitable, violence is not. Peace is the only
rational choice.

Our United States is the greatest democracy on the face of this
earth. But when the people of the world view our nation as the
greatest threat to world peace, something is very wrong. When the
people of the world advocate other answers than for the United States
to attack Iraq, and America refuses to listen to these global voices,
something is terribly wrong.

A flaw exists in the logic President Bush uses when he asks the
United Nations for solidarity against Iraq, but threatens to strike
unilaterally against Iraq, no matter what the Untied Nations
declares. We cannot belong to the United Nations without making a
commitment to what it stands for. We cannot belong to the civilized
nations of the world without realizing that all lives matter, whether
American or Iraqi.

America cannot browbeat the world into submission, but she must
lead the world in a new vision of a peaceful world order. She cannot
bully her enemies, but she must motivate the countries of the world
by her example. She cannot lead by intimidation, but must lead by
inspiration, honor and integrity. The United States must continue to
search for peaceful alternatives to conflict with Iraq.

Those who oppose war must share their voices advocating peace with
anyone who will listen. Let your voices demanding peace echo in the
chambers of Congress and resound in our president's ears. Tell them
to stop the war before it begins. Tell them war is not the answer.

Yours in peace,

Nancy Esterbrook

Community loss

Dear Editor:

With the death of Lee Sterling the community and his many friends
have lost a generous and willing volunteer who was one of a kind.

His wit and wisdom will be missed by all who were lucky enough to
know him.

It was a great honor to call him friend.

Glenn Bergmann

TABOR works

Dear Editor:

Last week both the editor, Karl Isberg, and Rep. Larson suggested
it is time to make changes to the Colorado Constitution to fix
problems caused by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Sen. Isgar, however,
concluded, "The time has come to bite the bullet and make the
necessary cuts. Until revenues return we must make cuts to match our
revenues and expenses."

I suggest that TABOR works well during both the years of plenty
and lean years. TABOR helped check excessive government growth during
the '90s. Many other states are in worse shape this year. Many of us
now make less and pay less taxes. TABOR is forcing the government to
cut accordingly.

Why should government agencies and the people who support
particular programs believe that they should be immune to the tough
decisions the rest of us have had to make?

I read about budget "cuts" and do not find the articles
particularly helpful. Percentages are not useful unless we know what
the base is. Similarly, raw numbers do not paint a clear picture. How
much of the cuts were cuts of proposed growth in this fiscal year?
Have programs been cut back to the fiscal year 2002 base, 2001 base,
etc.?

Government agencies are not entitled to continue to grow at rates
which are not supported by continued growth in our economy. TABOR
ensures that we cut back to the level of services we can afford. Our
elected officials have to make some tough decisions. We need to let
them know our priorities, then support their decisions or let them
know at the ballot box.

I do not like to see my favorite programs cut. I am sure you don't
either. Except we are probably talking about different programs. It
is unfortunate that more cuts have to be made in the third and fourth
quarters of the state fiscal year.

Administrators of state programs and budgets have known, however,
that further cuts could be necessary. If they fully spent their
budgets for the first and second quarters, then it is the
administrators who have acted unwisely.

When you read, as you probably will, that agencies are complaining
about cuts late in the fiscal year, the first question to ask is why
the budget and program administrators were not prepared to handle
cuts they knew were likely to come.

It is truly unfortunate that we do not have as much money
available to support desirable public programs as the state had
initially projected. It is also unfortunate that the least among us
often suffer even more - they receive less help from the government
programs and less help from nonprofit charitable organizations.

I suggest that anyone who supports higher taxes should contribute
an equivalent amount to the nonprofits, rather than try to impose
higher taxes on those of us who have already had to bite the bullet.

Dennis L. Eamick

Defends TABOR

Dear Editor:

Your editorial "Take off the Cuffs" seems to have been launched on
a flood of crocodile tears and loaded with inaccuracies and false
assumptions about what TABOR is and does. It might, also, lead
someone to think you didn't like the measure.

TABOR is not a spending plan. It does not limit funding for any
budget category or item. It does not require budget cuts or
reductions. It does not require reduction of the spending limit. It
does not require any tax reduction.

It does set a total spending figure which includes the amount
expended in the previous fiscal year, plus an additional amount for
inflation and for growth. This is not unique with TABOR. There have
always been limits on the amount, including allowed increases, that
could be budgeted. Also, voter approval is required. Again, not
unique to TABOR , as such requirements have been in our tax laws for
decades.

"Our representatives" have survived under such limits for the last
hundred years or so, through good times and bad. And, in spite of
being thus handcuffed, were able to keep the state growing. Why
change now?

One provision unique to TABOR is that revenue collected above the
spending limit must be refunded. This allows taxpayers to benefit
directly from high collections and good times. It has no effect on
the present distressful situation.

Tax collections are somewhat less than the spending limit -
something like $850 million less. State law, other than TABOR,
prohibits deficit spending.

"Our representatives" must now reduce spending to coincide with
the short collections. TABOR has nothing to do with the situation. No
excess, no refund.

Yes, in some respects, TABOR is rather simple. It tells "our
representatives" plainly and directly, here is the amount we
calculate you might need. Spend it as you please. Should you feel
more is needed, you must ask for an increase. And you must return any
amount you might collect above the spending limit. What needs
changing?

Looks like "our representatives" will be able to make the
necessary spending cuts. TABOR subsection (4) (b) possibly disallows
some of the "creative accounting" proposed, but Sen. Isgar says the
legal staff cleared the pay date change. It's hard to see how this
saves money. The obligation is there: pay today or pay next week.
What's saved?

It is nice to see some concern for the law. The letter of TABOR
should be followed, not just because the voters approved it, but
rather because it is the law. Hopefully, the "creative accounting"
will not produce the same results as in the business world.

Perhaps "our representatives" might use the present situation to,
figuratively, sail the good ship Colorado into dry dock and scrape
the barnacles off the hull, recaulk the seams, chip the rust away and
heave the dead weight over the side. In general, get the craft back
into "ship-shape" condition and make it into a more efficient
operation.

Such action would also indicate they realize they are "our
representatives" and not our masters.

F.T. Havens

Pets as lottery

Dear Editor:

I think the public should be aware of a new "Colorado Lottery in
the Making" in our state.

House Bill 1260 seeks to elevate the status of pets, from property
to "companion" and allow pet owners to sue their veterinarian for up
to $100,000 for the emotional suffering they face at the death or
injury of a pet. Colorado has more than 2 million dogs and cats in
1.6 million homes.

The Republican-sponsored bill, if passed, could be much better
than buying a lottery ticket. Just sue your vet.

I'm a Republican through and through. I also work in the home of a
veterinarian. I often arrive to see her hurrying off to the office
after being up most of the night with someone's mare in foal, or I
find little puppies and kittens carefully tucked in the bathroom so
the vet could keep a close eye on them all night. I am amazed as the
level of dedication.

Will we now subject our vets to the ruin our doctors are facing?
High insurance and constant threat of lawsuits, so they can't even
practice a profession it took eight years to achieve?

Write your representative. No more court held lotteries.

Wilma Hawkins

Carelessness

Dear Editor:

I sympathize with the daunting task of Sen. Isgar and Rep. Larson,
that they write about in their weekly newspaper columns, to cut the
$850 million state budget overrun.

The economy has contracted. Many companies have gone bankrupt.
Business revenues are down. Workers have been laid off, salaries cut,
pensions and medical benefits eliminated. Investment income has
plummeted. Things are tough all over. I commend them for their hard
work.

However, they permitted the overruns. They now must account for
the consequences. Cuts must be made. What politician wants to cut his
constituents' favorite programs?

But wait! The SUN rides to the rescue. Isgar's headline is,
"Nursing homes, school breakfasts hit by cuts." We can't do that to
the old folks and kids. Larson's column suggests a way out. Work for
the change of TABOR. The SUN editorial brings the solution "Take off
the cuffs". Repeal TABOR.

Another solution to this "legislative carelessness" is to vote out
the legislature that caused it. TABOR was made law to prevent this
kind of legislative overreach. Now it's working. Why should
taxpayers, whose income has fallen just like the state's suffer
increased taxes to bail out the state's overruns?

Taxpayers voted for this Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) to curb
the legislature's appetite to overspend. Taxpayers, your Bill of
Rights is at risk.

David Kuhn

Goodbye, friend

Dear Lee Sterling:

Goodbye old friend. With your passing our community has lost one
of its finest, most intelligent and nicest citizens.

You always spoke with such good sound common sense and always in
your gentle way. There were people who didn't agree with your
philosophies, but they always liked you.

This is an uncommon virtue. Your quick sense of humor was
unsurpassed. We will miss you very much.

Pierre and Sandy Mion

Faux patriots

Dear Editor:

Randy Shinn's letter of Feb. 6 definitely sent a cold chill up my
spine and I had to ask myself, "Would Shinn consider Jane Fonda to be
a patriot?" In my opinion, earlier generations would have executed
Jane Fonda.

Can you imagine her frolicking atop a Nazi V2 rocket and then
being hailed as one of the century's top 100 female role models?
Neither can I see Hanoi Jane celebrating tea with a terrorist in an
al-Qaeda cave or breaking bread with Saddam Hussein in Baghdad and
returning home a heroine. September 11 changed that.

On that day, we discovered that the patriotism many feared lost
was only dormant. Kept alive over the years by the strong American
family unit where our kids were taught the value of freedom and
religion.

September 11 marked not only the death rattle for terrorism, but a
monumental victory for hard hats; a victory of those who wear their
patriotism on their sleeve over those who will not wear a flag on
their lapel.

Now is not the time to bask in this triumph. It is time to
consolidate this victory lest it fade. The wise remind us that if
love is to survive, it must be exercised. We know this is true in our
families and work places. It also is true in our country. It should
be clear that every law we pass should foster love of country; and
every parent, teacher, public figure, role model and hero should be a
patriot who promotes patriotism in our youth and in our country.

We are clear that in terms of terrorism, you are either with us or against us. We should be just as clear with patriotism and you are either a patriot, one who supports and defends America, or you are not a patriot. The love of a patriot can be known by the acts of a patriot. The Bible teaches that there is a time for everything under the sun. Now is the time to enshrine patriotism in America, a time to denounce the anti-patriots, a time to expose the false patriots, a time to announce that we are ashamed to have them as countrymen.

The faux patriots are the most dangerous. They thrive in the
media, where we hear American journalists separating journalism in
America from America; where they denounce our war on terrorism,
praise the courage of our enemy, and would expose our secrets and
endanger our soldiers for a story.

The highest form of patriotism is service to our youth. No one is
born a patriot, it must be taught. We should teach our children to be
horrified by the awful offal of the counterfeit patriots and instill
in them a love of America. For Randy Shinn to imply that I will
become an informed citizen by reading a protest site on the Internet
makes me vomit. As for "not in our name," Mr. Shinn did not serve in
this 33 year Navy veteran's family's or country's name.

Jim Sawicki

Confidentiality

Dear Editor:

The Archuleta County Health Care Project has met with Peg
Christian, the person hired by the board to help with current
problems. We developed a high level of confidence in Ms. Christian
and believe the current resolution conflict process is of ultimate
importance for the future of the district.

We, along with the other groups of employees, administrators, and
the board have agreed to confidentiality. It is time for
communication to proceed within the district and not from outside. We
therefore pledge to end communication in this newspaper and all
verbal discussions of the subject. We ask that our supporters
likewise cease communication and that the public refrain from
discussing the process with any employee, administrator or board
member of the district.

During this moratorium we ask that all citizens and civic groups
maintain concern and consider what can be done to offer help and
support to the health care of our community. Please keep this process
in your meditations and prayers.

Thank you.

Norm Vance

Cites inaccuracy

Dear Editor:

In response to Mr. Randy Shinn's letter last week, as well
intentioned as it was, I provide herewith a factual, historical and
objective perspective which I suggest should be considered by all
open-minded persons.

The Web site Shinn recommends, was shut down very soon after the
group published its ad because it was overwhelmed by clear-thinking
opponents of its historic inaccuracy and hate directed against our
government instead of against the real perpetrators of evil in the
world.

Instead, I strongly recommend a reading of history to understand
current events, especially the well-documented "The Sword of the
Prophet; Islam - history, theology, impact on the world" by Serge
Trifkovic, 2002, Regional Orthodox Press Inc., Boston, Mass.

Muhammad fled from Mecca, rejected by his own people, eventually
conquered Medina, his place of exile, and returned to defeat Mecca on
March 15, 624. Thenceforth, Moslems (Muslims) with their Islamic
religion, repeatedly dominated those not agreeing with them by brutal
war and atrocities, being suppressed at times only by superior force.

Their avowed purpose is world dominance through the death of
opponents. A significant defeat, to prevent total overtaking of
Europe, was at Vienna on Sept. 11, 1683, by an army led by a Polish
general.

Note the significance of the date.

In the 1700s, three Moslem empires developed: Mogul in India,
Safavid in Persia and Ottoman in Turkey. The Mogul and Safavid
empires disappeared as a result of British and Russian ascendancy.
The Ottoman Dynasty ruled the greatest Moslem state until 1922 when
European power dominated the Moslems.

Today, the Moslems still desire world dominance especially through
destruction of Israel and the West. This they attempt to achieve
through terrorism and a high birth rate planned purposely to overtake
Europe, and eventually America, with rapidly decreasing birth rates.
This terrorism, with leaders like Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein,
and with increasingly available weapons capable of killing millions
even in our own country, again, can be stopped only by force, the
only deterrence successful historically, following years of failed
negotiation, UN resolutions, and peaceful efforts.

No one, including our administration, wants war which is avowedly
a last resort, but, given the above, war may be inevitable as the
only means of prevent atrocities the magnitude of which will far
exceed anything witnessed heretofore.

While we must all pray and strive for peace, we must keep a
historical, balanced perspective and be prepared to accept that evil,
which has the capacity of destroying us all more easily than ever
before, cannot be dealt with by stalling appeasement but only by
being destroyed. If it is not, far more people will be slaughtered
than would be by any action used to deter it.

Contrary to Mr. Shinn's opinion, the United States will not use
weapons for aggression, but for safeguarding the very freedom for
which he gallantly fought, and the peace and security of all of us.

Who wants to take a chance on another 9/11 or greater disaster by
non-action?

Eugene Witkowski

Growth challenge

Dear Editor:

I am writing to challenge those who advocate a growth moratorium
as a solution for human impact on water, air, and wildlife in Pagosa
Springs and elsewhere. What confuses me about this thinking is that,
for most people, in order to experience love on this planet, they
choose to create a family.

A conservative estimate is that one couple will have two children
who will each have two children, and so on. Within three generations,
14 people will be wanting homes in which to create their own
families. My question is: Are developers to blame for growth? Or are
they simply finding their niche?

China's solution for human population with its abortion and
infanticide would be unacceptable to most of us in order to control
growth. The Soviet Union attempted to abolish private property and
put everything under government control, and it eventually
collapsed..

However, during the years of their "experiment" there was
virtually no growth, and tremendous human misery. Some cities, to
address "growth" issues, have torn down single family residences and
replaced them with high-rise, high-density buildings. People have
resorted to extreme means to avoid living there, and commute instead
to their single family residences. Governmental control of human
activity apparently does not control growth or "sprawl."

Many in this country think that our environmental problems rest
squarely on the shoulders of real estate developers. In my opinion
the problem goes deeper than that.

For instance, if a farmer or rancher finds his land taxes
increased a thousandfold overnight, he gives up and sells to
developers. Who's to blame? The taxing entity or the developers? And
who is permitting developers to change this former ranch into a
subdivision? Some government entity, most likely.

We're so entrenched in the idea that government has to foot the
bills for roads, water, sewer, schools, libraries and fire protection
that we can't think "outside of the box."

For these issues, I concede that builders and developers get a
free ride on the backs of taxpayers. But what if they had to prove
they could supply these things before building even one house.

Our communities would have a completely different complexion,
which we may or may not like, and may or not like to pay for.

Sara J. Wilson

Community
News

Senior News

Don't forget bags, boxes for
Valentine cards

By Janet Copeland

SUN Columnist

Remember the Valentine's Party; we will celebrate Feb. 14. Bring a
decorated bag or box for your Valentine cards and we will give a
prize for the prettiest. We will exchange cards before and after
lunch, plus enjoy a wonderful meal planned by Dawnie and the kitchen
staff.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, which brings to mind love,
congratulations to Mae and Roy Boughan who celebrated their 51st
wedding anniversary Friday. They are wonderful folks and we commend
them for being happily married for that long.

We are sorry to learn that Lee Sterling passed away. Our prayers
are for his family.

Thanks to the children and teachers from Seeds of Learning who
entertained us last week. We always enjoy having them join us.

The AARP/TCE Tax Preparation Program will again offer its
confidential and free services to senior citizens and any person with
low to moderate income. This assistance includes the preparation of
the Colorado 104 PTC, property tax, rent, heat rebate credit for
eligible people.

They offer help with preparation of federal and Colorado tax
returns, assistance with specific questions on taxes if the person
has prepared their own return, and/or review tax returns prepared by
the taxpayer. Taxpayers with Schedule C with depreciation,
amortization and inventory, Schedules E, F or complicated capital
gains should see a professional tax preparer.

All you talented seniors with a little spare time, the elementary
kids could use your help. Volunteers are needed to spend time with
first and second-grade students and their teachers on a monthly basis
to listen to children read, help with school cut-and-paste projects
or offer a specialty you know well. Devote as little or as much time
as you want. If you will help, contact August Vanderbeek at 264-8216
for more information.

Thanks to Andy Fautheree (Veterans' Service officer) and Jim
Hansen (Medicare advisor) for joining us Friday to answer questions
and offer advice to folks.

Congratulations to Nell Clark, who won a drawing for a turkey.

Congratulations to our Senior of the Week, George Golightly.
George teaches art classes and we really appreciate him.

Welcome to the guests, returning members and new members who
joined us last week: Phillip and Georgia Payne (from Pensacola,
Fla.), Sue Hansen and Dan Wollenweber , Linda Appel, Pauline Benetti,
Rhonda Dixon, Marjorie Nevitt, Cora Woolsey and Mary Gurule.

There will be CPR classes for seniors from 1-3 p.m. Feb. 21. The
classes will be held in the Terra Cotta Room at the Silver Foxes Den
and there will be a suggested fee of $5. They are sponsored by the
Archuleta County Education Center.

Volunteer meetings will be held at 10:30 a.m. the third Monday of
every month (except February when the meeting will be the 24th
because of the holiday).

For all you rock hounds, Ron Alexander would appreciate some
volunteer help to gather, clean and organize some rocks. Contact
Musetta for more information.

Note that art classes are now held Wednesdays. We are trying to
accommodate folks as much as possible so changed the day.

We have a surprise coming in the spring. How long has it been
since you attended a "senior prom?" We will have a chance to do it
again. Stay tuned for more information as plans progress.

Archuleta County veterans continue to report they are experiencing
difficulty in calling and scheduling appointments at the Durango VA
outpatient clinic.

Frequently the complaint is they leave messages on the answering
machine, and no one returns their calls. Or, they have called and
spoken to someone there about scheduling an appointment, were
promised a return call with the appointment date, and no one has
called them back.

Sometimes it is unclear when the veteran called, how many times
they may have called, and whether they left a message or were
promised by someone at the clinic to call them back.

I spoke to Paula Jones at the clinic, who handles scheduling
veteran appointments. Paula said she returns all calls, which can
number as many as 50 a day. She was unable to provide me with an
answer on why I was getting so many complaints in appointment
scheduling.

I frequently advise Archuleta County veterans they need to call
the clinic, repeatedly if necessary, until their appointment schedule
needs are answered with an appointment date.

The number for the Clinic is 247-2214. Be courteous at all times,
but be persistent until you have the answers you need. The staff
there is extremely busy and is doing its absolute best in providing
quality VA health care to all eligible veterans under the current VA
guidelines.

The clinic will have a new doctor starting next week. His name is
Dr. Dan Hepburn who was hired to replace Dr. Dave Sigurslid, who has
been at the clinic temporarily since the unexpected death of Dr. John
Starnes several months ago. Jones said Dr. Hepburn has been with
Mercy Medical Center and was hired by Federal Health Net Services for
the position. Janice Short is the clinic nurse.

The Durango clinic is scheduling appointments in accordance with
the new VA health care guidelines. That is, veterans with 50-100
percent service-connected disabilities will receive top priority for
their first primary health care appointments. Veterans with a lower
priority 8 rating can expect a wait around five months. Jones said,
currently, low priority veterans are being scheduled in July.
Veterans in the high priority are required to be scheduled within 30
days.

Veterans who are already enrolled in VA health care and were being
seen by Dr. Starnes or Dr. Sigurslid and only require follow-up
appointments are seen in a very short period of time, a matter of
days, according to Jones.

Veterans who are in the lowest priority group and are currently
being treated at another VA health care facility may want to stay
with that provider. Transferring to Durango and being assigned as a
new patient there could result in quite some delay.

It is best to contact Durango and discuss your needs with that
clinic. If you are currently receiving your primary health care at
Farmington VA Clinic, you may want to stay there for the time being.

Remember, it is very important to schedule a physical examination
at least once a year with your VA health care provider, so you
continue your status as an "active patient."

Frequently veterans come by this office complaining they can't get
appointments. After asking when they were last seen at their VA
clinic some say, "Oh, it has been about a year or more." And, upon
further discussion or checking with the clinic in question, the
actual amount of time is often several years.

Be sure to stay current as a patient with your VA clinic, if you
want to continue receiving VA health care and VA health care benefits
such as prescription drugs.

For information on these and other veterans' benefits call or stop
by the Veterans Service Office located on the lower floor of the
county courthouse. The office number is 264-2304 and e-mail is
afautheree@archuletacounty.org. The office is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Monday through Thursday, Friday by appointment.

Chamber News

Recalling consummate
curmudgeon

By Sally Hameister

As I write this Monday morning, we have just
received word that our dear friend Lee Sterling passed away last
night.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Patty and
the Sterling children and family for the loss of this exceptional
man. He leaves a huge hole in the heart of this community that will
never be filled because the mold was immediately broken when Lee was
created.

I have considered a number of times recently
with his ever-increasing health problems what I would do when we lost
him, but I find, upon hearing this news, that I wasn't ready nor do I
think I ever would have been. I truly can't imagine my life without
the consummate curmudgeon dropping by the office to give me a hard
time and remind me not to take myself so seriously.

We were all incredibly fortunate to have
known him - he touched our lives in a unique and powerful way. I
don't quite know what I will do without him, but I do know that my
life is far richer for having known him.

My personal dream has always been to leave
this earth a better place than when I entered it - Lee accomplished
that feat simply by being the remarkable, bright, funny, loving and
insightful man that he was.

Thanks for the memories, my dear friend - I
will miss you more than you could know.

Balloon Rally kudos

Congratulations to Liz and Mike Marchand,
Denise Mudroch and the entire Reach for the Peaks gang on a
beautiful, successful balloon rally.

The lack of snow presented some real
challenges for other events, but those balloons filled the sky
Saturday and Sunday mornings and made us feel that all was well with
the world.

We were proud to be one of the title
sponsors for this event and are looking forward with great
anticipation to Colorfest in the fall when the balloons will appear
again.

Valentine fun

The Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta Club will
sponsor two celebrations to honor Cupid's contribution to our
culture, Valentine's Day, and hope you will join them for both
events.

The Spanish Fiesta royalty will host a Teen
Sock Hop tomorrow from 8-11 p.m. at the Pagosa Springs Community
Center.

Cost for the Sock Hop is $4 and includes
punch, popcorn, door prizes and a DJ. Students sixth through 12th
grades are asked to bring their school ID cards. If you need more
information, contact Isabel Webster at 264-4604.

Saturday night the Spanish Fiesta Club will
host its annual Sweetheart Dance from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at The Timbers
with local musicians, The Ladters, providing great dancing rhythms.
Ten dollars at the door will get you in, and you can call Jeff Laydon
at 264-3686 for more information.

The Spanish Fiesta gang is already working
on plans for their Cinco de Mayo celebration, and looking for
volunteers to make it bigger and better than ever. Helping hands are
needed for the Children's' Festival on May 3, as well as the
dinner/dance scheduled for that evening featuring a mariachi
serenade, Fiesta royalty coronation and live Spanish music throughout
the night. Business banner sponsorships are being offered for $25,
and you can contact Lucy Gonzales more information at
264-4791.

Happy anniversary

Our warm congratulations to Frankie and the
gang at Mariani's Bakery and Café who will celebrate their
first anniversary on Valentine's Day Friday.

To celebrate this wondrous landmark, The
Bluegrass Cadillac Band will entertain, so you are encouraged to make
reservations now. They are also celebrating the 100th birthday of the
house they occupy at 214 Pagosa St. so count on twice the fun. Call
264-1800 to make reservations.

Happy third anniversary

Wow, we're just delighted to see our members
celebrating significant milestones and Pat and Gordon Kahn at
Victoria's Parlor will commemorate three glorious years in business
Feb. 18. To thank you for your loyal patronage over the past three
years, they will offer a "buy one, get one free" coupon in this
week's SUN or just mention that you heard it on the Chamber "Good
Morning, Pagosa!" show aired on KWUF Radio on Wednesday. These
hard-working folks richly deserve their success, so be sure and stop
by to congratulate them and share the celebration at 274 Pagosa
St.

Happy 10th anniversary

It just gets bigger and better with the
number of years, and we couldn't be happier to congratulate Denny and
Judy Barber on 10, count them, 10 years of great success at the Hogs
Breath Saloon and Restaurant at 157 Navajo Trail Drive.

The actual anniversary date is Feb. 23, but
these good folks are offering amazing specials all month to thank
loyal customers for their continued support over the years. Check
their "Customer Appreciation" ad in this issue of the SUN for the
specials offered Monday through Thursday evenings until the end of
the month. Ten years in the restaurant business is a miraculous
accomplishment anywhere, anyhow, so we tip our hats to the Hogs
Breath Saloon and Restaurant for hanging in there and doing a great
job.

Newsletter Inserts

Our quarterly newsletter, The Chamber
Communiqué, is coming up the first part of March, so if you
would like to include your inserts, please bring them to us by Feb.
21.

To acquaint those who might not be familiar
with this economical marketing tool, allow me to explain: Basically,
all you have to do is bring us 750 copies of your piece on 8-by-11
unfolded colored paper and a check for $40, and we will do the rest.
There simply isn't a more economical way to reach more people for
less money, and in times like this, we all can use a break in the
savings department. Feel free to use both sides of the insert to get
even more bang for your buck. Give Doug a call at 264-2360 with
questions about your insert.

Clean up

Unfortunately, the dearth of snow has not
only created a significant decrease in moisture but apparently an
equally significant increase in garbage along the highways and byways
in and surrounding Pagosa Springs. Whereas, on a normal year the
white stuff hides all the debris along the highway until well into
spring, this year it's all out there blowing around and looking,
well, yucky.

We encourage everyone to consider it their
personal beautification project and stop by the Chamber and pick up a
few orange bags to fill while beautifying our lovely town.

Bowl for Kids' Sake

Big Brothers Big Sisters is holding their
annual bowling fund-raiser March 1-2 at Durango Bowl and invite you
to organize a team or join a team to benefit this organization. The
organization supports and guides children who are in need of mentors,
and by participating in this fun event, you can do your part to help
them accomplish their goals.

Call the Pagosa Case Manager, Dearle Ann
Ricker at 264-5077 or the La Plata office at 247-3720 to sign up, get
pledge sheets or for a team assignment to Bowl for Kids' Sake.

Fred Harman Gala

Join the folks at Friends of the Performing
Arts for an evening to honor Fred Harman and, simultaneously, to
raise funds for a future Pagosa Springs Performing Arts Center. This
western evening will be held Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Fred Harman
Museum beginning at 6 p.m. You can view the gallery, socialize and
sip some wine and/or sparkling cider from 6-7, and then enjoy the
renderings of cowboy poets Bob Huff, Phil Janowsky and Fred Harman
II.

This intimate gathering will also include an
auction for an authentic Red Ryder Daisy Rifle, circa 1940. Seating
will be limited for this event, so get your tickets early at
WolfTracks Bookstore and Coffee Company or the Chamber of Commerce.
Presale tickets are $20 and tickets at the door will be $25.

SURVIVOR - Pagosa

Those wacky Rotary Club Follies are back in
full force with the wildly popular theme borrowed from the TV
Survivor series.

Shows will take place Feb. 22, in the
multipurpose room at the community center at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets can
be purchased at all local banks, the Chamber of Commerce and from any
of your friendly local Rotarians for $12.

The Follies is a compilation of comedic
short skits representing the year in review in Pagosa Springs. Humor
is the name of the game, and, as always, the show is R-rated and not
suitable for the kiddies. Three or four acts from the Durango
Snowdown Follies will participate as well. Mary Jo Coulehan will be
happy to answer your questions at 264-6200.

Membership

We have seven new members to introduce to
you this week. Five renewals make it a mighty nice week for Chamber
membership.

Jari Sage joins us first with the realized
dream of opening her own mortgage broker firm, High Meadows Mortgage
located at 190 Talisman Drive, C-4. She will provide a wide range of
residential loans, refinances, new construction and commercial. There
will be additional staff added to the Pagosa office as well as the
opening of a second office in Durango by March 1. Stop by and say
hello to Jari or call her at 731-6333.

Joining us next is Ronnie Zaday who brings
us Personalized Mortgages, LLC, located at 301 North Pagosa Blvd.
Personalized Mortgages provides personal, informative and expedient
mortgage service. They specialize in residential, construction and
commercial lending with professional integrity. These folks will be
happy to answer all your questions at 731-6847.

We next welcome J.C. Clark who brings us the
Alliance Group located at 147 East Seventh Ave., Apt. 5, in Durango.
The Alliance Group offers affordable health insurance with "Your
Choice of Doctors." They also offer no networks, on-the-job coverage
and you cannot be singled out for rate increase or cancellation. No
pre-authorization or referrals are needed. Give J.C. a call at
385-4763. We thank Kathryn Heilhecker for the referral and will
cheerfully send Kathryn a free SunDowner pass.

Our good friend Mr. Todd Shelton joins us
next with, Affordable Storage, at 4640 West U.S. 160. This location
is paved and offers a security gate, an on site manager and is
semi-truck accessible. Storage units are 5-by-10, 10-by-10, 10-by-20
and outside storage is offered as well. Give Todd a call at 731-2188
to learn more about Affordable Storage.

Our next new member is Spencer Snell who brings us Spencer for Hire Drafting Service, LLC, at 3600 North Pagosa Blvd. Spencer can translate your residential vision - new construction, addition, remodel  into plans suitable for building permits when an architect may not be needed. He has been a member of the Pagosa community since 1996 and would be happy to talk to you about his drafting service at 731-2955.

Melanie Arnold joins us next with The
Wilderness Society located at 229 Beaver Circle. The Wilderness
Society is a national nonprofit organization working to preserve
America's wildlands heritage through public education, scientific
analysis and advocacy. To learn more about The Wilderness Society,
please give Melanie a call at 731-0145.

Rick Unger joins us next with his new
business, Unger Art, with offices in his home. This must be the week
of realized dreams, because this is something Rick has wanted to do
for years, and we're delighted he is now pursuing his dream. Unger
Art specializes in portraits, both human and animal, executed in
oils, pastels, watercolors or graphite. He can work with Western,
commercial or cartoon commissions and will be happy to talk to you
about your needs at 731-2929.

Our renewals this week include Harry Kropp
with The Silver Mine Country Company; Jay Harrington with The Town of
Pagosa Springs; Daron Selph with Mesa Propane; Connie Bunte with The
Choke Cherry Tree; and Mary Przybylski with Holiday Inn Express. Many
thanks to one and all.

Library News

Kool-Aid dyes knitting yarn

By Lenore Bright

You're invited to come in and see a very
unusual display of knitting items by Rita O'Connell. One of the
displays will be using Kool-Aid to dye the yarn.

Rita comes to us by way of Minnesota. In her
other life, she has a doctorate in environmental science and
engineering. But in this much more fun endeavor, she is nationally
known for "Sam the Ram," and "Sue the Ewe." Come by and meet
Sam.

Rita especially likes alpaca yarn. In fact,
she also writes a column for Alpacas magazine. Rita publishes her own
patterns and sells them through mail order, and at various shows. The
items include stuffed animals, bags, pouches, containers and
three-dimensional shapes.

Rita also makes unusual buttons out of
polymer clay. Her interests are varied and she experiments with a
variety of fibers and dyes. Rita is a professional designer of
knitting patterns and teaches beginning and advanced classes. She has
her own business and Web site.

Tax forms

State tax forms are still not here, and one
of the federal books of forms has not arrived. It is apparent both
governments are encouraging everyone to do their taxes online. Our
dependency on the computer continues to grow. This may be the last
year we will have printed tax forms available.

New books

"24 Hours to the Civil Service Exams," is a
comprehensive test prep guide. It gives test-taking tips and
important advice on job application procedures.

"The Stable Veterinary Handbook," by Colin
Vogel gives clear, practical advice on many of the common horse
ailments and injuries. First aid is explained and he tells when to
call the vet. Vogel is a British veterinarian who was the Information
officer of the British Equine Veterinary Association for six
years.

"Baby Gifts," by Ethel Brennan provides
simple heirlooms to make and give. You don't have to be a craft
expert to make these items. The getting started section explains the
simple techniques used throughout. The "no-sew" bibs are
clever.

"Longitudes and Attitudes," by Thomas
Friedman is made up of columns Friedman has published about Sept. 11.
Also included are his reflections and reporting while traveling
through the Middle East. Winner of three Pulitzer prizes, he has a
unique perspective on the new kind of war we find ourselves fighting.
Friedman gives voice to America's awakening sense of a radically new
world, and our complex place in it.

Collectible bookmarks

We finally have tassels and the committee
should have the first two bookmarks ready for sale by next week.
Carol Fulenwider and Jan Brookshier are the first two featured
artists. Thanks to Jack and Lyn DeLange for finding the
tassels.

High Meadows Mortgage specializes in
refinancing and new purchases, in construction and commercial
loans.

Sage invites everyone to visit the new
office and to expect the same high quality service she has always
provided her customers.

Business hours at High Meadows Mortgage are
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Other times by
appointment.

Call Sage at 731-6333.

Features

Tax Time

AARP offers free tax
preparation program

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

It's tax time again.

For some, the April 15 deadline is a reason
for panic. The forms are intimidating, the numbers are confusing and
the concerns many.

Others may have simple question or just want
their own figures double-checked.

A few have it figured out. They prepare
their own taxes or forms for family members. Six of these locally
have opted to share their talents by becoming volunteer tax
counselors with the American Association of Retired Persons Tax-Aide
program.

The Tax-Aide program is the nation's largest
free, confidential tax counseling and preparation service. It's
offered to all middle and low income taxpayers and anyone age 60 and
older. In Pagosa Springs, Tax-Aide counselors are entering their
fifth year of offering free aid.

In 2002 volunteers here saw 165 people and
donated just under 300 hours of time preparing tax returns, Teresa
Ann Huft, local coordinator and Tax-Aide counselor, said.

That's a lot of paperwork - enough to keep
the six volunteer tax counselors busy all day once a week. Huft said
last year's business included some state sales tax refunds - a
program not available this year - others interested in the property
tax rebate program and those needing help with state and federal tax
returns.

Not counted in the 300 hours of volunteer
time, are the days spent in training. Although the counselors all
have some tax background, to be certified, they must participate in
annual training and pass a test. Completing the requirements can take
anywhere from two to six days, Huft said. Topics include basic tax
law, wage earners and pensions.

It's all part of the service.

"One of our counselors was a professional
tax preparer," Huft said. "The rest of us got into it because we do
our own taxes, or we do taxes for our family members and wanted to
give back to the community."

To further ensure quality of the work done
by the Tax-Aides, one counselor per week is assigned to double-check
the work done for customers. After all, Huft said, it's all about
them, the people who come in for help.

"A large number of people who participate in
this program get money back," Huft said. "That means they usually
leave here happy. I'll get hugs, or people will bring in cookies,
I've had people say they'll pray for me. That means a lot."

Many times customers are unaware of the
programs they might take advantage of - even if they owe no state or
federal taxes at all.

Perhaps the most overlooked program is the
Colorado Property Tax/Rent/Heat rebate which allows qualified
recipients to receive up to $792 for their property tax and/or rent
and heat expenses paid in 2002.

The rebate is available to full year
Colorado residents who meet age, disability and income requirements.
For instance, those who qualify must be at least 65 years old, or a
surviving spouse at least 58 years or disabled for all of 2002 no
matter what the age. A single person must have income less than
$11,000. Those who are married must have income less than $14,700.
They must also have paid property tax, rent or heating expenses and
cannot be claimed as a dependent on anyone else's tax return.

It is also still possible to file for a 2001
property tax heat rebate provided the requirements were met for that
year.

Huft said because tax information is
sometimes intimidating and no one group is actively pushing the
property tax heat rebate, it sometimes falls through the cracks.
However, many of the people who qualify for the Tax-Aide program may
also qualify for the property tax heat rebate. And that's something
that can make a big difference to someone on a limited income.

But that's just one of the programs the
Tax-Aide counselors consider during an appointment which could last
for anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours.

Some people come in simply to find out
whether or not they need to file. For instance, Huft said, in Pagosa
it's fairly common for some employers to use a 1099 form rather than
the standard W-2s. Under the 1099 rules, anyone who earns over $400
owes a self-employment tax. In some cases, by using other programs,
the tax counselors can actually get a person a rebate to offset the
self-employment tax. Other times, people will have to pay.

"We fill out the forms and go through it
with them," Huft said. "We answer any questions they might have and
we put everything in a special folder for them to take home." On the
outside of the folder, the counselors make note of the forms needed,
the time it took and the year. People are then encouraged to bring
the folder back the following year to speed up the process.

"We don't keep their records," she added.
Their customers must also mail the returns on their own.

Huft said getting access to e-filing is in
the works, but not available yet. Last year, the software was here,
but not the computers. This year, she has four computers at home, but
the software hasn't arrived. "We are hoping we can add it in the
future, but at the moment we don't have it."

Appointments with Pagosa Springs Tax-Aide
counselors are available Mondays, February-April, with one exception.
February 17 is a holiday. That week, appointments will be taken Feb.
21. Call 264-2167 to reserve a time or receive more information. The
tax counselors are located in the art rooms at the Pagosa Springs
Community Center on Hot Springs Boulevard.

The AARP Tax-Aide program is administered by
the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service.
About one-third of the program funding is provided by the AARP
Foundation. The rest comes from an annual IRS Tax Counseling for the
Elderly Program grant. It is a nonprofit program.

Native American history key to
area

By John Motter

One of the pleasing aspects of living in
Pagosa Country is taking part in the multiracial nature of the
culture.

Our local heritage is a mixture of Hispanic,
Indian and Anglo. Evidence of that ethnic mixture is all around us.
Naturally, the Indians were here first, followed by Hispanics and,
finally, the Anglos.

Unlike most areas of the United States, we
remain surrounded by large Indian populations, people who maintain
and practice many of their traditional ways. South of us in New
Mexico is the Jicarilla Apache Nation. The Jicarilla are celebrating
Jicarilla Days this entire week commemorating the formation of their
reservation in 1887.

To enjoy good fry bread, Jicarilla arts and
crafts and native dancing, visit Dulce this week.

We've written recently about how the
Jicarilla reservation came to be. Anyone wanting to know more about
the Jicarilla can find a considerable number of books on the subject.
Better yet, Dulce is only about 40 miles away. Instead of reading a
book, get to know the Jicarilla first hand. You see Jicarilla
shopping regularly in Pagosa stores.

Immediately west of Pagosa Springs and
stretching to the Utah border and beyond are the lands of the
Southern Utes. More than any other tribes, the Utes were living in
Pagosa Country when Hispanics and Anglos arrived.

As with the Apache and Navajo, the Utes
haven't always lived in this area. Many experts who study the subject
think the Utes, Apaches and Navajo all arrived here just a short time
before the Hispanics. That would be some time between 1000 and 1500
AD. The theory is, they came from different directions.

All of the various bands of Apache and
Navajo belong to the Athapaskan language family. It is believed the
Athapaskans, in perhaps more than one movement, came to the Southwest
from the northwestern part of the continent. Indians living in
British Columbia speak the same language.

The Utes belong to a different language
family, the Uto-Aztecan. It is believed that the Utes came from
California to this area.

Along with the Pueblo tribes which lived
mostly along the Rio Grande River in New Mexico, the Utes, Apache and
Navajo were the first Indians to get horses after the Spanish
arrived. Because many of the Ute bands wintered in New Mexico, they
encountered Hispanics, often referred to as Black Beards, at an early
date. Utes, Jicarilla Apaches and the Pueblo were allies. All
regarded the Navajo as enemies. The Pueblo name for Navajo means
enemy.

Three bands of Utes, now known as Southern
Utes, lived in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico when the
Hispanics and the Anglos arrived. Their descendants still live in the
Ignacio and Cortez areas. Ignacio is agency headquarters for the
Capote and Moache bands. Towaoc, on the Ute Mountain Reservation
south of Cortez, is headquarters for the Weeminuche band.

How the current Southern Ute Reservations
came to be is a subject of this week's and maybe more, Oldtimer
articles.

The treatment of the subject will be an over
simplification due to the limiting nature of newspaper articles. As
with the Jicarilla, almost countless articles have been written about
the Utes. Personally, I know of no book that really does justice to
the known history of the Ute people.

Because I am focusing on how the reservation
came to be, as an information source I am using "Southern Ute Lands,
1848-1899; The Creation of a Reservation," by Gregory Coyne Thompson.
This is paper No. 1 of the occasional papers of the Center of
Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, filed in March 1972 and
edited by Dr. Robert Delaney. I obtained my copy from Dr.
Delaney.

The Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo of 1848
placed the Southwest under control of the United States. That was the
treaty following the Mexican-American War. Prior to the treaty,
Southern Utes only had incidental contact with Hispanics and Anglos.
Following the treaty, Anglos started settling in New Mexico and
Colorado on lands occupied by the Utes. Originally, Utes roamed a
vast area including much of Utah and Colorado, New Mexico and even
into the panhandle of Texas when hunting buffalo.

To maintain peace after the Anglos came, a
series of treaties were struck between Ute and Anglo. Treaties in
1864, 1868 and 1874 greatly reduced the Indian holdings. By 1879, the
Southern Utes were on a reservation.

Again, in 1880, an attempt was made to move
the Utes, first to a small area located on the La Plata River, then
into southeastern Utah. Pressure was even exerted to move the
Southern Utes to the Uintah Reservation which already housed the
Northern Utes.

Between 1880 and 1894, one attempt after
another was made to move the Southern Utes, somewhere, anywhere,
else. Finally, in 1894, the Secretary of the Interior decided to
leave the Southern Utes where they were.

This decision was confirmed by presidential
proclamations in 1895 and 1899. Even so, individual Utes were
encouraged to take title to homesteads. This accomplished, the
remaining land, most of the reservation, in fact, was sold to
Anglos.

Next week l'll begin retracing the various
treaties beginning with 1864. In the process, we'll see how a once
powerful nation was reduced to almost nothing.

Editorial

What price peace

Saturday's peace march in downtown Pagosa
Springs was a clear expression of the consternation many if not most
Americans feel when faced with the specter of war and of the
uncertainty many citizens experience as they consider the prospects
of a conflict in the Middle East.

Our letters to the editor section continues
to show a wide range of opinion regarding the topic and the debate
continues.

As it should. This is a topic that must
remain under constant scrutiny. And it must broaden.

Our current situation is deserving of
rigorous inspection and analysis; we are on the verge of sending our
young people half a world away to topple a regime many consider a
rogue threat to our and others' security. Our military is in
Afghanistan continuing a war there against the remnants of another
hostile state and the terrorists it supported. We have troops in the
Balkans, maintaining stability after a conflict. There are troops
working in Southeast Asia and South and Central America.

What is clear from this is our debate should
be about more than this one conflict, which many wrongly assert is a
battle for oil. It is more than that. If the primary aim of a war in
Iraq is oil, that conflict could have been avoided more than a decade
ago, had we urged a despot to undercut prices and sell his oil to us.
Oil most certainly could have been purchased at bargain basement
prices from a tyrant newly ensconced in Kuwait, occupying the
gold-riddled residences of sheiks. If oil were the major factor in
our foreign policy, the embargo on Iranian oil would have been
lifted. We support Israel; there is no oil in Israel.

The debate must expand.

Part of what we need to consider is the role
we've taken as the world's sole superpower, the only nation with the
ability to impose security - by cultural, political, military and
economic means - in parts of the world whose instability breeds
forces that aim to undo our way of life. There are people in this
world who wish to attack us, to destroy us in a religious war. They
wish to rid the world of our culture. There are barely stable states
that seek to grow in power, to subsidize terrorism, to construct
weapons needed to successfully confront us. They will do this as long
as we actively work to retain our current way of life.

There are enormous numbers of human beings
on the planet, perhaps billions, who want to emulate our standard of
living. There is not enough to go around.

Our debate, therefore, should also include
consideration of the question of whether or not the style of life we
enjoy, with its comforts and accouterments, with barely restrained
consumption of energy and resources, with its expansive appetites and
its excesses can and should be maintained.

War in the Balkans, war in Iraq, war in
Afghanistan? War in North Korea? War in African countries? Wars of
all sizes and kinds, on several continents?

Are they inevitable?

We must debate the question of what general
standard of life we desire, of what we are willing to do to have it
or what we are willing to give up, whether we want to pursue the role
we have accepted as the major agent of change and the avowed champion
of democratization and a particular style of stability and security
around the globe.

We need to talk, to argue and be realistic -
about what goes on in the world's far reaches and how it relates to
what we do and what we want here at home.

Karl Isberg

Pacing
Pagosa

Mr. Helpful's Valentine
primer

By Richard Walter

For those of you who live in a vacuum, have
no life, or are totally immersed in an unimportant, meaningless job,
let me be Mr. Helpful and offer a gentle reminder:

TOMORROW IS VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Of course, you may be one of those pining
for a target for Cupid's arrow. Or, you may already have selected the
gift to accompany the beautiful card you intend to send the target of
your love.

Procrastination is an unenviable trait and
believe me, it can get you in big trouble on this particular
day.

Much more trouble than simply forgetting an
anniversary or a birthday.

This is the Big One, the day eternal love
and devotion are foremost in the minds of hopeful recipients.

Cross them, forget them, be less than
effusive in your adoration, and you'll learn what the wrath of a
spurned love can do.

You think he or she was cold in the
aftermath of the purple and green sweater you presented for Christmas
or the last birthday?

Try missing Valentine's Day and see what
real wrath is all about.

If you arrive home tomorrow evening
expecting a big, delicious dinner on the table and you haven't even
thought about a Valentine tribute, you might as well plan on heading
out to the fast food haven for your sustenance.

While you're out, you should run over to the
supermarket for a look at what's left of the Valentine selection and
the gaily wrapped heart-shaped boxes of candy.

It may be your only hope for sanity in the
household in the forthcoming year.

Flowers? Great idea, but it most likely is
too late by now. Still, it won't hurt to look, to call the flower
stores and see if there are still a few long stem roses in stock. It
might just cost an arm and a leg, but if you do nothing, you may be
in line to lose both of those limbs to a jilted Valentine,
anyway.

Perhaps you've remembered by now the days in
grade school when Valentines were the rule of the day on Feb. 14 and
everyone in the classroom deposited theirs into a big box at the
front.

Then, they were distributed by roll call of
names.

If you didn't get the one you hoped for, you
had to be satisfied with the ones you did get.

Of course some youngsters got many more than
others, so the teachers always made sure every pupil got at least
one.

No one could say he or she was left
out.

Today, however, you have no such escape
route. If you forgot, if you blew it, you have only yourself to
blame.

No hot meal, no welcome home from a hard day
at the office, no kiss on the cheek, no Valentine to hand your mate
as he or she reaches out with one for you?

If that describes your plight, you have no
one to blame but yourself and some old superstitions.

Some say the celebration came from the Roman
festival of Lupercalia. Others link it with an early Christian saint
who befriended children but was jailed for refusing to worship Roman
gods. The children missed him and tossed loving notes through the
bars of his cell; still others trace it to an old English belief that
birds choose their mates on Feb. 14.

If you are not a saint, have no love note or
gift for your Valentine, you're going to be a lonely bird on this
Valentine's Day.

Legacies

90 years ago

Taken from Pagosa Springs New Era files of Feb. 14, 1913

Should Pagosa actually become dry in law and the bootlegger would
start in business he would have quite a little sledding on a rocky
road. The people of this community may be in favor of regulated
saloons, but they are not in sympathy with the bootlegger.

John Lafilio, who borrowed a horse and saddle in Pagosa and forgot
to return it, and who has been in jail in Durango awaiting trial for
the offense, was allowed to plead guilty in the district court there
Saturday and Judge Searcy imposed an indeterminate sentence of one to
ten years in the state reformatory.

Archuleta County has over 300 miles of public roads and before the
flood had river bridges. Every one of those bridges were destroyed by
the flood.

75 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Feb. 17, 1928

One of the best costume balls ever given in Pagosa Springs or any
town of similar size was the Valentine ball at the Carlsbad Lodge on
Tuesday night. As there were so many beautiful and striking costumes,
with an equal number of graceful dancers, the judges had a difficult
time in making their selections for the prize awards.

The first half of your 1927 taxes commence to draw interest on
March 1st, if not paid prior to that date.

The musicale, given last evening at the M.E. Church, was well
attended and greatly enjoyed by all. A neat sum was realized and will
be used to purchase song books for the church.

50 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Feb. 13, 1953

The weather has given every indication that old man groundhog's
weather is pretty apt to be accurate. Snow started falling on Sunday
night and has continued more or less intermittently since that time.

Through the efforts of the Pagosa Springs Lions Club the school
now has a new, up-to-date score board. The score board has an
electrical clock, gives the time per quarter and indicates the
quarter and the scores of the local and visiting teams. It was
installed in time for the game last weekend.

The past weekend saw a number of dogs poisoned in town. Nearly
every year some misguided individual takes it upon himself to bring
anguish to a number of children and adults by sinking to the depths
of dog poisoning.

25 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Feb. 9, 1978

Eight Pagosa Pirate wrestlers are at the state tournament in
Greeley this week. The Pirate wrestling squad won the district
wrestling tournament last weekend.

More snow keeps falling in these parts, although not in large
enough quantities. The snow depth on Wolf Creek Pass is creeping up
and snowfall is now normal for this time of year. Water content is
high and last year's dry spell may be broken.

The town board has agreed that the trash haul at present is not
satisfactory. The board said that if it is not working as it should
be within two weeks, other methods of hauling trash will be studied.

Over 30,000 skiers have been at the Wolf Creek Ski Area this
season and it is a little more than half over.